Chap 1

CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Computers and

Programming
Introduction to Computers and Programming
Topics
Introduction
How a Program Works
Using Python
Program development process
Good programming habits
2
1
Introduction
Computers can be programmed
 Designed to do any job that a program tells them to
Program: set of instructions that a computer follows to
perform a task
 Commonly referred to as Software
Programmer: person who can design, create, and test
computer programs
 Also known as software developer
3
How a Program Works

CPU designed to perform simple operations on pieces of
data
 Examples: reading data, adding, subtracting, multiplying,
and dividing numbers
 Understands instructions written in machine language and
included in its instruction set
 Each brand of CPU has its own instruction set
To carry out meaningful calculation, CPU must perform
many operations
4
2
Interpreters
Programs written in high-level languages must be
translated into machine language to be executed
Interpreter: translates and executes instructions in high-
level language program
 Used by Python language
 Interprets one instruction at a time
 No separate machine language program
Source code: statements written by programmer
10001011
Source
Interpreters 11001101
Program
00110011
Machine
Language 5
Interpreters
Syntax error: a misspelled key word, a missing punctuation
character, or the incorrect use of an operator.
 prevents code from being translated
 Example: English
He is handsome vs. He are handsome
6
3
How a Program Works
Program must be copied from secondary memory to RAM
each time CPU executes it
CPU executes program in cycle:
7
Interpreters
Figure 1-19 Executing a high-level program with an interpreter
8
4
What is Python?
1) General Purpose
• Python is a general purpose programming language.
That means you can use Python to write code for any
programming tasks.
• Python are now used in Google search engine, in
mission critical projects in NASA, in processing
financial transactions at New York Stock Exchange.
9
What is Python?
2) Interpreted
 Python is interpreted, which means that python code is
translated and executed by an interpreter one statement
at a time.
 In a compiled language, the entire source code is
compiled and then executed altogether.
10
5
What is Python?
3) Object-Oriented
 Python is an object-oriented programming language.
 Data in Python are objects created from classes.
 A class is essentially a type that defines the objects of
the same kind with properties and methods for
manipulating objects.
 Object-oriented programming is a powerful tool for
developing reusable software.
11
Python’s History
created by Guido van Rossum in Netherlands in 1990
Open source programming language.
He later named this language as Python after choosing the word
form a TV serial named Monty Python's Flying Circus.
On December 3, 2008, Python 3.0 (also called "Py3K") was
released. It was designed to rectify fundamental flaw of the
language.
Python is influenced by following programming languages :ABC
language and Modula-3.
12
6
Python 2 vs. Python 3
Python 3 is a newer version, but it is not backward compatible
with Python 2.
That means if you write a program using Python 2, it may not
work on Python 3.
13
Using Python
Python must be installed and configured prior to use
 One of the items installed is the Python interpreter
Python interpreter can be used in two modes:
 Interactive mode: the interpreter waits for you to type
Python statements on the keyboard. Once you type a
statement, the interpreter executes it and then waits for you
to type another statement.
 Script mode: the interpreter reads the contents of a file that
contains Python statements. The interpreter executes each
statement in the Python program as it reads it.
14
7
Interactive Mode
When you start Python in interactive mode, you will see a
prompt(>>>)
 Indicates the interpreter is waiting for a Python statement to
be typed
 Prompt reappears after previous statement is executed
 Error message displayed if you incorrectly type a statement
Good way to learn new parts of Python
15
Writing Python Programs and Running

Them in Script Mode
Statements entered in interactive mode is useful for testing
code but are not saved as a program
To have a program use script mode

 Save a set of Python statements in a file
 The filename should have the .py extension
 To run the file, or script, type
python filename
at the operating system command line
16
8
The IDLE Programming Environment
IDLE (Integrated Development Program):
 single program that provides tools to write, execute and test
a program
 Automatically installed when Python language is installed
 Runs in interactive mode
 Has built-in text editor with features designed to help write
Python programs
17
Programming Style and Documentation

Good programming style and proper documentation make a
program easy to read and prevents errors.
Programming style deals with what programs look like. A
professional programming style programs are easy for people to
read and understand.
Documentation is the body of explanatory remarks and
comments pertaining to a program.
18
9
Appropriate Comments
Include a summary at the beginning of the program to explain
what the program does, its key features, its supporting data
structures, and any unique techniques it uses.
Include your name, class section, instructor, date, and a brief
description at the beginning of the program.
19
Appropriate Comments
Special characters
Character Name Description
() Opening and closing Used with functions.

parentheses
# Pound sign Precedes a comment line.
" " Opening and closing quotation Encloses a string (i.e., sequence
marks of characters).
''' ''' Paragraph comments Encloses a paragraph comment.
20
10
Comments: e.g.s.
# This program displays Welcome to Python
''' This program displays Welcome to Python and
Python is fun
'''
# line comment : Python interpreter ignores all text after #
# on the same line.
# Display two messages

print("Welcome to Python").
print("Python is fun")
21
Proper Indentation and Spacing

Indentation
 Indent four spaces.
 A consistent spacing style makes programs clear and easy
to read, debug, and maintain.
22
11
Proper Indentation and Spacing
Spacing
 Use blank line to separate segments of the code.
 Add a single space to both sides of an operator.
 E.g.: print(3+4*4)  Bad style
print(3 + 4 * 4)  Good style
23
Programming Errors
1. Syntax Errors
Error in code construction
e.g., misspellings, punctuation omissions, or using an
opening parenthesis without a corresponding closing
parenthesis
Example:
24
12
Programming Errors
2. Runtime Errors
Causes the program to terminate abnormally.
occur while a program is running if the Python
interpreter detects an operation that is impossible to
carry out.
e.g.: misplaced of file, or division by zero.
25
Programming Errors
3. Logic Errors
Produces incorrect result, e.g. wrong formulas
E.g.: ShowLogicErrors.py
Output :
Fahrenheit 35 is Celsius degree
-12.555555555555554
Correct answer should be 1.66.
Correct formula should be
print(5 / 9 * (35 - 32)) 26
13
Summary
This chapter covered:
Fetch-decode-execute cycle
Installing Python and the Python interpreter modes
27
14

Chap 1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chap 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CHAPTER 1

Introduction to Computers and

Introduction to Computers and Programming

How a Program Works

Figure 1-19 Executing a high-level program with an interpreter

Writing Python Programs and Running

To have a program use script mode

Programming Style and Documentation

Character Name Description

() Opening and closing Used with functions.

''' ''' Paragraph comments Encloses a paragraph comment.

# Display two messages

Proper Indentation and Spacing

You might also like