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A brief introduction to computer programming.
Definitions
- Programming - the process of designing and writing computer programs to perform specific tasks
- Program - a set of instructions written in a specific programming language that a computer follows to complete a task
- Programming Language - a special language used to write algorithms that a computer can understand
- Syntax - the vocabulary and grammar of a programming language
- Algorithm - a set of well-defined instructions, performed sequentially, to complete a task
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Welcome, in this video, we wrap up
your computer science primer with
0:00
an introduction to computer programming.
0:05
Let me give you a few definitions.
0:07
First, what is programming?
0:09
Programming is the process
of designing and
0:11
writing computer programs
to perform specific tasks.
0:14
What is a program?
0:18
A program is a set of instructions written
in a specific programming language
0:20
that a computer follows
to complete a task.
0:24
What is a programming language?
0:27
A programming language is a special
language used to write algorithms that
0:29
a computer can understand.
0:34
Each programming language has its
own syntax, rules, and logic.
0:36
You can learn many different
programming languages at Treehouse,
0:41
like JavaScript and Python.
0:45
I will explain syntax and
algorithm in more detail.
0:47
Syntax is the vocabulary and
grammar of a programming language.
0:51
It is the special words, commands,
and punctuation of a language,
0:57
as well as the rules for
putting them together to create a program.
1:02
Let me give you some example
sentences in English.
1:06
Seneca eats lunch at noon.
1:08
Instagram is my favorite iPhone app!
1:12
Can Casper cleave
the coriander conspicuously?
1:16
Each statement follows the rules
of the English language to
1:19
form a proper sentence.
1:24
Even if you don't know all the words
in that last example, you probably
1:26
recognize that I am asking a question
about a person's ability to do something.
1:30
You might think I made up some of
those words just to prove a point.
1:34
I promise I didn't, but
1:38
some of the words in that second
sentence didn't even exist 20 years ago.
1:39
An algorithm is a set of
well-defined instructions,
1:44
performed sequentially,
to complete a task.
1:48
An algorithm may be written in plain
language or in pseudocode, which is
1:51
a mix between your spoken language and
the code of a programming language.
1:56
Be careful,
2:01
what may seem obvious to you might be
harder to describe than you think.
2:02
Here's a human example of an algorithm.
2:07
How would you explain the process
of making a peanut butter and
2:10
jelly sandwich to a five-year-old?
2:14
Let me give it a shot.
2:17
One, obtain two slices of bread, one scoop
of peanut butter, one scoop of jelly.
2:18
Two, spread the peanut butter on one
face of the first slice of bread.
2:26
Three, spread the jelly on one
face of the second slice of bread.
2:30
Four, to create the sandwich,
combine the peanut butter face of
2:35
the first bread to the jelly
face of the second bread.
2:40
Five, slice the sandwich diagonally.
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Six, finally,
bite your sandwich and enjoy.
2:47
You can make some minor
adjustments to this algorithm.
2:53
For example, you can swap steps two and
three, and still yield the same sandwich.
2:56
You can omit step five all together and
still eat the sandwich.
3:02
You can replace peanut butter and
jelly with other ingredients.
3:06
Of course,
you'll end up with a different sandwich.
3:11
However, you cannot
completely mix up the steps.
3:13
Otherwise, you may end up with
a sticky mess or no sandwich at all.
3:17
Hopefully, this was helpful as you begin
your journey into a wonderful new field.
3:22
Feel free to visit these
videos again as a refresher.
3:27
If you have questions about anything
covered in this workshop, please reach out
3:30
to other students in the community or
the Treehouse staff, thanks and good luck.
3:34
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