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Computer programming: What is it, what is it for and what are its basic concepts?

Computer programming: What is it

Programming is one of the broadest branches of computer science , making a good manipulation of your languages ​​we can create any software, or web page. These are present anywhere on the Internet, as well as in all the programs we run.

If you are new to this world of programming this post will help you a lot , where we will show you the basic but most important concepts before you begin to understand any program code.

In the last section we will show you what are the most used programs, to be able to program any software from scratch. Although not everyone has the same functions, depending on what you want to do. They will serve you very much.

What is computer programming and what is this technology for?

The programming has many utilities , but its main objective is to create software, which can be executed on the computer a, or through some program.

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To make a programming you need to establish a series of rules , together with small command commands, instructions and expressions, which at first glance tends to take similarity to a bounded natural language.

In other words we can say that a schedule is composed of rules, parameters, standards, symbols and keywords that are used to form a program. Such programs are created for the purpose of human use , giving solution to a problem posed.

Being the Programmatic Language the responsible for the proper functioning of the programs . This creates a guide, so that the computer can respond positively to the software and follow the steps, without it collapsing. These steps and commands are known as algorithms, whose function is to guide the reader system what to do.

We can understand from the foregoing that the programming language is the direct intermediary, between the computer and the user (we), being a reciprocal communication, solving all the problems posed with use of the functions.

The functions are those that translate the information that the program has to the computer to perform the proposed activities.

Programming types

Next, we’ll show you some common types of programming:

  • Sequential Programming: It is known like this, because they are those programs that form and create designs with guidelines that go in sequence (one after the other), as well as Cobol, Basic, etc.
  • Structured programming : This is the type of programming that is designed by modules. Each of these, are in charge of performing a special task, when an action is requested to be executed, the module in charge of executing it is called, such as Turbo Pascal, Ada, Modula.
  • Programming Object-oriented: Used by those languages ​​implemented for the execution of a program code to each object within the programming.
  • Logical or natural language programming : It is known like this, because the user can give orders with a natural language (example Prolog) for the machine to execute it, designed with interfaces to make it possible.
  • Programming artificial intelligence: This is such a complex program that can approach human intelligence, capable of developing any knowledge. This type of language is what has been replacing some programs that need manual execution.

List of the most important concepts you should know about the science of schedule

In order to program we need to handle many concepts, what is known as the scientific language.

Today we will explain some of the most important terms when programming:

Programming language

Cuáles son los principales lenguajes de programación usados actualmente

The programming language is the system of symbols and rules that is used to build software for one or more computers operate and can solve the need or problems posed effectively.

These languages ​​are actually a line of instructions that dictate the input / output operations, calculation, text manipulation, logic / comparison and storage / recovery.

The communication language can be classified into:

  • Machine Language: It is a type of language oriented to instructions that are directly assimilated by the computer, where it is not necessary to establish some translation so that the CPU can understand it and activate the program . These instructions are expressed at a memory size smaller than the bit.
  • Low Level Language: also known as Assembler, is the language written in alphabetic codes known as mnemonics, used in operations and symbolic directions.
  • High level language : This is a language very similar to natural (human ) language, it is the one that Directly dictates the instructions to the computer. Being this, written mostly in English, which facilitates a writing and understanding of what happens in the program.

Algorithms

Alan-Turing-Algoritmos

When we talk about algorithm, we refer to a set of numbers , this name comes from the Latin of the Arabic word alkhowarizmi (this being the name of a mathematician and astronomer).

The algorithm shows us a set of procedures that must be executed to drive actions in the specific order. In other words, it is responsible for executing the actions of a program ordered by an operator or user.

We can have a life algorithm, for example:

  • Get out of bed.
  • Take off your clothes.
  • Take a shower.
  • Get dressed.
  • Have breakfast.

The same happens in a computer, being the main actor of the orders , which must be fulfilled in a specific time. The programs are a set of algorithms already developed and ready to be used by the computer .

Source program

It is a notion that is used as a synonym for source code , that is, it is the one that works together with the algorithms to issue instructions to a computer to execute . Such are lines of texts written with a programming language capable of imparting all the instructions of a certain base.

In a source program, or software is the one that details all the functions that must be executed, and a programmer is the one who develops these instructions. Both walk respecting the chosen programming languages ​​.

It should be noted that although the source program starts the instructions, is not the one interpreted by the hardware, these are previously translated into a different language. The translation is performed by interpreters , assemblers and compilers, which, in addition to translating, also converts the source program into a binary code .

The programming languages ​​ are quite limited , but the way it is structured is quite different, because vary according to the programmer . These take the identity of who created it.

Object program

This is the name of that program that is in machine language , where it is automatically executed by it. Being the result of translating a source program, making it a language understandable enough for the machine.

Account with object-oriented programming (OOPS). It is the programming technique used for those objects in the form of indispensable building blocks, many consider that this type of programming is the closest to human reasoning, emerging as an excellent solution to the programming of large software.

Assembler

This is the term given to the type of computer program capable of translating a source file written in a programmatic language into an object file. This, is run directly by a microprocessor that gives you all the resources so you can do your job.

In other words, this program is responsible for completely disassembling a file and reassembling it again , but replacing each of the mnemonic codes that appear in the corresponding operation code in a binary system. This is done with respect to the platform that was chosen as the destination with the determined parameters.

Assembler types

Assemblers are divided into two types:

  • Basic Assemblers: Named like this because they are low level and consist only of offering symbolic names to instructions, parameters or other things like modes.
  • 32-bit modular assemblers: These are high-level assemblers, which serve as a response to the 32-bit processor architecture. Although it has the same skills as the previous one, its compatibility is much greater , and can be used in quite complex programming structures.

Compiler

Compilers are a type of translator, used to transform a (complete) program from one programming language to another , known as source code. Although normally the target language is the machine code, it can translate it into an intermediate code or bytecode. You can also transform it into some necessary text at the moment.

Unlike other translators or interpreters, compilers can gather different elements or fragments in the same unit , forming a library of them, and then reused. Due to these processes, it is known as compilation.

Compilers are structured with different series or phases, which would vary according to their complexity. Mostly they can be grouped into two:

  • Analysis of the source program.
  • Synthesis of the object program.

The analysis is responsible for checking the correctness of the source program , depending on the language and definition that it has of each of the terms. This process includes lexical analysis, syntactic analysis and semantic analysis.

In the second group, known as synthesis, all object languages ​​that are formed by one or more combinations of code generation phases are mentioned, also consisting of a function that allows code optimization. p >

Pseudocode

It is the algorithmic description language, being a high-level one, informally compact of the operating principle of computer programs or some other algorithm.

The pseudocodes use different structural conventions , designed for human reading, while the other codes are interpreted by machine , for this reason the pseudocodes are independent of any other communication language.

Mostly pseudocodes omit details that they consider to be negligible , and useless for human understanding of the algorithm, system-specific codes may be variable. This language is completed from anywhere , assuming a natural description, using mathematical numbers in a compact way.

A pseudocode is much easier to understand than a conventional programming language, because it is an efficient description, maintaining an environment completely independent of the fundamental principles of an algorithm.

Flowcharts

Flow charts have different uses depending on their approach . In programming, these represent a scheme of the steps that a program must have or must follow, where they represent the algorithms in a simpler way than the pseudocodes.

This is a method that helps us to form the complete operation and the creation of a program structure, without having to be in front of a computer. But this is not your only advantage, we can also quickly understand what you want to convey, because it expresses a clear and precise message.

Most programmers use this method before programs, thanks to its potential way of structuring. It has less arid graphics level than the pseudocode.

Coding

Mejores-programas-encriptar-documentos-en-Windows-10

The coding is a phase that is done once the programming is completed of the software. At this stage some algorithms are translated into a specific programming language. These are previously defined before converting.

When an algorithm is to be encoded, we must first know the type of language to which we are going to translate. The algorithm of the program is responsible for determining its logic, regardless of the programming language in which it is written.

In programming, the programming language, its assemblers and the orders that must be followed are important, but the type of symbol used or the language extension is known as coding, and in the programming area can vary greatly depending on what you want to program.

Software design

It is the global process that is carried out when it is being programmed, where the objectives to be met and their functions are specified. We can say that software design is responsible for conceptualize, frame, implement, put into operation and finally, modify complex systems, or activities that meet the determined parameters. Used mostly in the area of ​​software engineering.

The most basic job a programmer should do is the software design where they are specified, the colors, sizes and others … so that the program can be liked by people. It includes different components of low level and high, to conform the architecture.

List of the main software to program you should know span >

If you are interested in programming you will have to evaluate the different programs you can use to do it.

Next, we will show you a small list of programs that will help you program:

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