Basics of Programming

Question 1

Identify interpreted programming languages and compiled programming languages.

Answer 1

Interpreted:
* Javascript - simpler scripting language that runs through web browser interpreter
* Python - popular because it’s easy to learn and use for developers
* Lua - general purpose game scripting language, easy to learn and use
* HTML - markup language used for formatting webpages

Compiled:
* C, C++, C# used in many OS, microsoft, windows, apple macos, linux
* Java (Android OS) - NOT Javascript

Question 2

Compare interpreted and compiled programming languages.

Answer 2

Interpreted > Goes through interpreter > Interpreter is the OS or web browser
* Aka script code or scripting, used to automate tasks
* Interpreter programs read and execute the source code line by line
* The source code needs to be executed each time
* Runs on almost any operating system with the right interpreter

Compiled > Executable files > Grouped in programs on your device
* Aka programming languages
* More complex programs that complete larger tasks
* Larger programs installed on compter or device
* Longer time to write the code but runs faster
* Grouped into one downloadable file

Major Differences
Intepreted
* Available across multiple platforms or in the cloud
* Easier to learn and use
* Better for websites and smaller, repeated processes
Compiled
* Same operating system coded in the same language
* More difficult to learn and use
* Better for larger tasks like an OS

Question 3

Describe query languages and assembly languages.

Answer 3

High level languages
* More sophisticated
* Use common English
* SQL, Pascal, Python
* Query, Structured Programming Language, Object-oriented

Low level languages
* Uses simple symbol to represent machine code
* Ex: ARM, MIPS, X86
* Assembly languages

Question 4

Define the two main methods of organizing and planning code and describe the advantages of each.

Answer 4

Flowcharts
* Pictorial representation of algorithm, displays steps as boxes and arrows
* Used in designing or documenting a process or program

Pseudocode
* Basic, Informal, high-level description of algorithm
* Algorithm is Step-by-step sequence of solving a problem

Question 5

Design simple flowcharts.

Question 6

List the differences between branching and looping.

Answer 6

Branching is deciding what actions to take while looping is deciding how many times to perform an action

Question 7

Describe the purpose and use of identifiers and containers.

Answer 7

Identifiers
Software developers use identifiers to reference program components
* Stored values
* Methods
* Interfaces
* Classes

Containers
* Special type of identifier to reference multiple program elements
* No need to create variable for every individual element
* Faster and more efficient

Question 8

Describe the purpose and use of functions and objects.

Answer 8

Functions
* Consequence of modular programming software development methodology
* Multiple modular components
* Specific task within a program
* Structured, stand-alone, reusable code that performs a single specific action
* Enables software developers to take a substantial, complex program and divide it into smaller, more manageable, and focused pieces

Objects
* Key to understanding object-oriented programming (OOP)
* OOP is programming methodology focused on objects rather than functions (which is what procedure oriented programming is focused on)
* Objects contain data in the form of properties (attributes) and code in the form of procedures (methods)