Introduction to Computer Programs

Overview

Programming is the art and science of writing instructions that a computer can follow to accomplish a task. This task could be playing a game, performing a calculation, or simply browsing the web. However, before we can learn how to write programs, we should understand what a program is and how a computer can understand and execute the instructions we give it.

In this chapter, we’ll study this in more detail—along with the basics of what a computer is, how it works, and its history. A basic understanding of these topics can be helpful in discussing the different aspects of writing programs. It allows us to relate to how the computer will treat the code we write.

• A perspective on the history and origins of the computer.
• Background knowledge of the original ideas behind programming.
• Understanding what a computer program is.
• Learning how a computer program works.
• An understanding of what machine code is.