Programming overview

Learning Computer ProgrammingProgramming Overview

Presenter: Frank Amankwah ([email protected])

Contents

● Programming: What & Why● Programming Paradigms● Programming Languages● Choosing a Language● Wrap up

Programming Overview

What is programming?

● Instructing a computer to carry out a task

● Creative process of turning ideas into software

● Empowers you to make computers do anything you want...?

Why do we program?

● A natural, satisfying and creative experience● Enables accomplishments previously

impossible.● Opens new world of intellectual endeavor● It is cool, fun and potentially very rewarding● Anyone can do it!

Programming Paradigms

Programming Paradigm

● A way of building the structure and elements of computer programs

In the early days...

Structured

Procedural

More recently…

Object-oriented

+

Programming Paradigms

● Languages can support one or more paradigms

Programming Languages

Programming Language Generations● Machine Language (1GL)

o Very low level, tedious and error-prone

● Assembly Language (2GL)o Usually specific to a particular processor family and

environment

● High-level Languages (3GL)o Independent of a particular type of computer

hardware

● Fourth Generation Languages (4GL)o Provides a higher level of abstraction than 3GLso Closer to natural human languages

● Natural Languageo Ambiguous and hard for computer to understand

Programming Languages

Common Language Features● Data Types & Structures● Operators, Conditionals and Loops● Functions and Procedures● Exception Handling

Choosing a Language

Where do you begin?● Depends on your problem domain

o High performance, low latency applications

o Complex computation and data analysis

o Embedded and control systems

o Enterprise applications

o Dynamic web applications, widgets and APIs

o Computer graphics and animation

o Computer and console games

o Mobile applications and games

Choosing a Language● Best suited to the problem you are trying to solve

● Widely availableo Runs on various hardware platforms

o Supports multiple operating systems

● Widely usedo Large, active community

o Readily available libraries and frameworks

TIOBE Programming Language Index

Source: http://www.tiobe.com/index.php/content/paperinfo/tpci/index.html

RedMonk Programming Language Rankings

Source: http://sogrady-media.redmonk.com/sogrady/files/2014/01/lang-rank-114-wm.png

● Problem Domainso High performance applicationso Complex computations o Embedded systemso Computer and console gameso Mobile applications and games

● Communitieso C - http://www.cprogramming.como C++ -

https://plus.google.com/communities/116007775542700637383

o Objective-C - https://plus.google.com/communities/103997592872376747208

● Problem Domains

● Client/server applications

● Web/mobile applications and APIs,

● Web Plugins and widgets

● Web/mobile games

● Communitieso http://www.meetup.com/Londonjavaco

mmunity/

o https://plus.google.com/communities/100875929141897651837

o http://www.csharpforums.net o http://androidcommunity.com

● Problem Domainso Dynamic web sites and applications o Automation of system admin taskso Popular choices for learning

programming

● Communitieso http://phpcommunity.orgo https://www.python.org/community/o https://www.ruby-lang.org/en/communit

y/

Why Learning by Yourself is Hard

● Commitmentso Flexible o Intensiveo Relevant

Why Learning by Yourself is Hard

● Motivationo Autonomyo Masteryo Purpose

Learning the Language● Intensive Courses

o http://www.makersacademy.com o https://generalassemb.ly

● Online courseso https://www.coursera.org/ o https://www.udacity.com/ o https://developers.google.com/university/

● Online tutorialso https://www.khanacademy.org/ o http://www.codecademy.com

● Other online resourceso http://www.w3schools.com o http://learncodethehardway.org/

Aim of this Meetup Group

● Help you to Learn Computer Programmingo “Overview” Meetups & Eventso Hands-on Workshops/Webinarso Flexible Software Development Courseso Coaching & Mentoring

● Build a vibrant community

Wrap Up

● It’s really not just about learning a language!

● Software Development involves a lot more…

● So think big and work smart!

In Summary...

Recommended Approach

● Find an interesting problem to solve● Choose a language and Learn the

fundamentals and language features● Practice, practice, practice…..● Have fun!

Questions?