The Psychiatric Ward

Forgoten_Scars said:

You're so lucky. I'm still stuck in programming concepts. My last assignment was crappy. I had to memorize a lot of useless junk. :/

Programming Concepts

Computer Hardware vs. Software: Hardware is the actual equipment or devices on a computer. Software is the computer programs that are written to tell the hardware what to do to accomplish specific tasks.

Programming Logic: Basic programming logic takes the known values or the input and performs some task called the processing to produce the output of the program.

What is a computer program? A set of instructions used to perform a task.

What is computer programming? The process of writing computer programs.

What is a computer programmer? The person writing the computer programs.

What is a programming language? Programming languages are used to write your computer programs. Depending upon the application of the program you would choose the most appropriate language. The rules of the language are referred to as syntax. Typically we think of programming languages as the high level languages that may be used to accomplish a task.

Examples of high level programming languages are...
Java
RPG ( Report Program Generator)
COBOL
Visual Basic
C++

Why are there so many different programming languages? Because different types of problem applications are solved more efficiently in some languages instead of others. The company compiler usage or personal preferences of the programmers also determine which languages will be chosen. Some hardware, such as the IBM iSeries, usage may determine which language compilers are available.

Steps to creating a computer program

1. Requirements analysis ? determine the needs of the program and what the input, processing and output requirements are for the program.

2. Determining what information is needed

-- Database, physical file, table or data file structure ? these terms are used interchangeably to mean a storage location on disk that holds information or data. Depending upon the programming platform different terms may be used.

On the IBM iSeries these are?

physical file ? the entire file fields ? each column represents a field
JONES MARY 6626664646 Records ? each line or row represents a record
SMITH JOE 6628884848
ABLE SAM 6627225454

?

-- Data Structures
a) Fields or variables ? A group of related characters to form a piece of information. Such as a name or address.
b) Arrays - several pieces of information or fields stores as one unit. Each piece of information or element must have the same data class (either numeric or alphanumeric).
c) Tables - Allows you to store two pieces of information where there is a one to one positional relationship between an entry in the first table and the second (alternating) table.

3. Determine the program logic

-- Pseudocode ? a tool used to write the logic in ?English terms? to determine the process flow of the program. This is ?false? code, because it can be used to determine the logic of the program without worrying about the syntax of the language. This is a planning tool that will save you time and effort during the development stage of the program.

A couple of examples of pseudocode are shown...

Example 1:
Read data record to begin program
if (hours > 40) then
overtime hours = hours ? 40
overtime rate = rate * 1.5
overtime pay = overtime hours * overtime rate
regular pay = 40 * rate
else
regular pay = hours * rate
overtime pay = 0.0
endif
gross pay = regular pay + overtime pay
print gross pay

---

Example 2:
Read data record to begin program
if (hours > 40) then
subtract 40 hours from hours to get overtime hours
multiply rate by 1.5 to get overtime rate
multiply overtime hours by overtime rate
multiply 40 hours by rate to get regular pay
else
multiply hours by rate to get regular pay
set overtime pay to 0
endif
add overtime pay and regular pay to get gross pay
print gross pay

?

-- Flowcharts ? a flowchart is a pictorial representation of the logic of a program. This is beneficial to determine/view the logic of a program. The purpose of flowcharts are basically the same as pseudocode, it is just another way to represent the logic of the program. The symbols used are predefined to mean something specific. Notice the labels below.
An example is shown below:

-- Control Structures

a) Sequence ? each line of the program is executed in the order in which the instructions are written.
b) Selection ? the ability to choose which lines of code that gets executed based upon a condition. Methods of performing selections depend upon the language, but some examples are if statements, IFxx (RPG), switch statements (C++), select case (VB). (xx may be replaced with GT greater than, GE greater than or equal to, LT less than, LE less than or equal to, NE not equal, EQ equal.)
c) Repetition or looping- the ability to repeat lines of code multiple times. Methods of performing looping depends upon the language, but some examples are while, do while, DOWxx (RPG), DOUxx (RPG). (xx may be replaced with GT greater than, GE greater than or equal to, LT less than, LE less than or equal to, NE not equal, EQ equal.)

4. Coding

-- Write the computer program code.
-- Key the program into the computer using and editor.
o Editors ? many editors are available, depending upon the languages. Some example editors are Textpad, Visual Studio, Dev C++, SEU (Source Entry Utility).
o These editors are used to key in your program and some of the editors have error checking ability. This allows some of the syntax errors to be corrected while typing in the computer program.
-- Save the program as the appropriate file type. For example: C++ program saved as a .cpp file extension.
-- Compile the program. Compilation converts the source code you typed in into object program (machine language) that the computer can understand. For example: .cpp program is compiled to create an .obj (object program). C++ has one other step that links in needed files with the object program to create an executable program .exe file extension. This last phase is called linking the computer program. C++ can compile and link during the build of the program.

5. Debugging/Testing ? During the compilation or execution of the program errors may occur.
-- Syntax errors ? Errors may occur during the compilation stage that result in an abnormal compilation. Abnormal compilation means that the code is not following the rules or syntax of the language.
-- Run-time errors ? errors that interrupt the execution of the program. For example, you tried to open a file that does not exist on the system.
-- Logic errors ? this is when the results that are printing or displaying are not what you expected. For instance, you multiplied where you should have added. It will compile normally, however, it does not give desired output.

6. Execution ? To run the program and get the desired output
-- Types of output include?
? Updated files
? Report printouts
? Screen displays (can be web applets, display files, web applications)

7. Documentation ? After the program has been thoroughly tested, make sure all documentation is complete. This can be either internal or external documentation.
-- Internal documentation ? comments within your computer program that explains what processing is occurring in the program.
-- External documentation ? requirements, flowcharts, pseudocode, and/or any information outside of the computer program that supports the description of the program purpose.

Did you take classes in High School that had to deal with Programming.
I'm asking 'cause I'm taking Visual and Server communication in 12th, and if I take these classes I can go right to Advanced Languages in university.

I took one Visual Basic class back int he 9th grade, but by now, I've forgotten all about it.

Oh, and Eli. About your text: It's all good as long as I know you love the chicken. <3

Lastly, I'm happy with this year's Brawl so far. The two entrants in the new banner competition are vastly better than last year.

Spoiler:

Oh I have portal 2. ^_^



On what though? PC? Xbox? :O



+_+
Armor of the Master win = 999 medals.

Xbox.

And that's a nice sum. Do you know what No Heart fetches you?

And Houndoom for the win <3

Gotta fight the master once more to figure that out. Arena level 29.


Oh! It gets me a new keyblade too.


It's Kay Derek, ^_^

Eli, can you get on IM? I need to gripe more.

X_x
Holy crap Will... No Heart is like Vanitas' lingering Spirit...with 10x as much Hp.

That's the fun in it Fawx ^_^

;-;
I'm only on the first part of the battle though. I'm hitting ones and he's hitting 100's by throwing keyblades at me.


D: I am Soooooo under leveled

Well then...Go level up some more then. I found Mega Flare is wonderful for that ;D

Need to find a decent leveling place though.

Oh have you seen the volume two for Birth by Sleep yet?

http://forums.supercheats.com/topic.php?topic=119497
If either of you two care for the band.

I go to the Keyblade Graveyard, get my HP low so EXP Chance kicks in, and Mega Flare everything to death in the tornadoes

And volume two? What do you mean?

That.

Ohh, I will do that. <3


Never heard of them. Sorry Derek. :S

Oh, that's too bad. They make great ringtones. <3

I think I just shat bricks <3 <3 <3
I'm so glad I got a PSP! ^_^

Also, EXP Walker works. I know that it sounds cheap, but I turned the brightness off on my PSP, taped the stick so I ran in a circle, and by morning, I jumped from 50 to nearly 60.

Interesting Derek, I'll listen to the songs.

That's a little low. .-.


Oh and this looks just magical <3 blue

Spoiler:

« Last edited by Axionas on 14th Jul 2011 »

You... set a screen filter to negative?

It's a button combination on macs to make the screen go negative.

And yea, I know Fluffy. I ended up forgetting to save, and I'm only up to Level 54 right now ._.'
Then again, I haven't touched it in a while.

No idea. I pressed command option control and 8. And everything went all pretty. I like the black and blue look of it a lot. <3