CS101 Introduction to Computing

Lecture 45
Review & Wrap-Up
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During the last lecture we discussed Programming Methodology

We looked at a few effective programming practices that result in the development of correct programs with minimum effort
We also became familiar with testing & debugging

readable program?
A program that is easy to read & understand, and therefore, easy to maintain & enhance
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Readable programs are: - more readable - efficient enough

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Design Guidelines
Break your code down into short and simple functions (e.g. take the 3 swap statements out from the last example and put them into a function of their own) Do not use global variables

Coding Guidelines
Indent blocks of code (2 to 5 spaces) Always use semicolons to end statements

Identifiers:
Use the camelBack scheme Make them descriptive but concise Variables: nouns Functions: verbs

Comment liberally

Guidelines for Developing Short Programs

1. Read, understand the problem 2. Do you have all the required data? 5. Write the code on a piece of paper 6. Hand-check it 7. Type it in 8. Run & check it on test cases 9. Errors? fix & redo 9 10. Done!
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No: Get it
Else assume it. State it explicitly 3. Do the design 4. Write test cases

Design & Code Reviews

Probably the most efficient way of improving the a program Being humans, at time we see what is supposed to be there instead of what is actually there

Another pair of eyeballs may not have the same problem, especially if they are were not involved in building the design or code 8

Testing & Debugging

Testing: The tasks performed to determine the existence of defects Debugging: The tasks performed to detect the exact location of defects Defects are also called bugs or errors Let us now look at one of their classifications
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Types of Errors
Syntax errors Semantic errors Run-time errors

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Todays Goal: (Review & Wrap-Up)

To review some of the interesting ideas that we discussed over the last 44 lectures Please note that this lectures is not a comprehensive review, just a sampler!

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Course Objectives

1. 2. 3.

To build an appreciation for the fundamental concepts in computing To achieve a beginners proficiency in Web page development

To become familiar with popular PC productivity software

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What value do

computers bring?

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fast bored

storage

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What type of problems are not suitable for computers

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Progression of Computer Technology

1. Mechanical computing

2. Electro-mechanical
3. Vacuum tube 4. Transistor (the current state-of the-art) 5. Quantum computing
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Quantum Computers
Quantum computers may one day be millions of times more efficient than the current state-ofthe-art computers

as their quantum mechanical nature will allow them to examine all possible answers to a question, simultaneously

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The World Wide Web

A huge resource of info Logically unified, but physically distributed

It is unlike any previous human invention:

It is a world-wide resource, important to all and shared by all of the people in the world

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The Semantic Web

Whereas, todays Webs content is designed for humans to read; the Semantic Webs content will be designed for computers to understand meaningfully

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Internet: Network of Networks

A large number of networks, interconnected physically Capable of communicating and sharing data with each other

From the users point view, Internet a collection of interconnected networks looks like a single, unified network 20

Language of the Internet: TCP/IP

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
TCP breaks down the message to be sent over the Internet into packets

IP routes these packets through the Internet to get them to their destination When the packets reach the destination computer, TCP reassembles them into the original message 21

Instant Messaging
eMail: Slow response times eMail: No way of knowing if the person we are sending eMail to is there to read it eMail: The process of having a conversation through eMail by exchanging several short messages is too cumbersome
22 Instant messaging (IM) solves these problems

Why use many not-sopowerful processors working in parallel

Why not just design a single, really powerful processor

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On-Chip Cache Memory

That small amount of memory located on the same chip as the uP The uP stores a copy of frequently used data and instructions in its cache memory When the uP desires to look at a piece of data, it checks in the cache first. If it is not there, only then the uP gets it from the main memory Its proximity to the uP makes access times 24 short

Ways of Enhancing A uP
Increase the clock frequency Increase the word-width Improve the effectiveness of the caching algorithm Add more functional units (e.g. ALUs, FPUs, Vector/SIMD units, etc.)

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Hardware Operating System Device Driver

Language Scientific Business Productivity Entertainment Utility Translator Apps. Apps. Apps. Apps.

System software Application software

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The Role of An OS
Manages the HW and SW resources of the computer system, often invisibly. These include the processor, memory, disk drives, etc.

Provides a simple, consistent way for applications to interact with the HW without having to know all the details of the HW

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Who Owns Software?

Generally, although a piece of SW that is being used by millions, it is not owned by any of them! When we buy a SW package, we do not really buy it we just buy a license that allows us to use it, the ownership stays with the maker

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4th-generation languages
High-level languages Assembly languages Machine languages
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Interpreters:
Immediate response, but execute code slowly

Compilers:
Compiling takes time, but super-fast execution

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Can a single language have all the good bits of all other languages?
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Concept & Feasibility

User Requirements Developer Specs Planning Design Implementation Integration Testing Acceptance Test Test

Software Lifecycle
Test
Test

Test
Test

Opr. & Maintenance Retirement

Algorithm
1st Definition: Sequence of steps that is taken to solve a problem

Better Definition: A precise sequence of a limited number of unambiguous, executable steps that terminates in the form of a solution
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Pseudo Code
Quite suitable for SW development as it is closer in form to real code One can write the pseudo code, then use it as a starting point or outline for writing real code Many developers write the pseudo code first and then incrementally convert each line into real code
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Heuristic
Common sense lesson drawn from experience

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Caution! Caution!
Heuristics dont always lead to the best results
At times they even lead to the wrong ones, but mostly to results that are good-enough
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Dont just remove the defect; correct the process that caused it
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is a heuristic, an algorithm?
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When I look at a Web page it should be self-evident, obvious, self-explanatory I should be able to get it - what it is & how to use it - without expending any effort thinking about it
excerpt from Steve Krugs book Dont Make Me Think
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Avoid using pictures that are strictly decorative

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(Artificial) Intelligent Systems

SW programs or SW/HW systems designed to perform complex tasks employing strategies that mimic some aspect of human thought

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Not a Suitable Hammer for All Nails!

if the nature of computations required in a
task is not well understood

or there are too many exceptions to the

rules

or known algorithms are too complex or

inefficient

then artificial intelligent systems have the

42 potential of offering an acceptable solution

Database
A collection of data organized in such a fashion that the computer can quickly search for a desired data item

All data items in it are generally related to each other and share a single domain

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Relational Databases
Databases consisting of two or more related tables are called relational databases A relational database stores all its data inside tables, and nowhere else All operations on data are done on those tables or those that are generated by table operations

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Future Trends: On-Demand Computing Power

Almost infinite computing power supply
Reliable, maintenance-free, just like the electricity, telephone, or water-supply service No capital expenditure; you pay for only what you use! Same will be true for storage
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Future Trends: Immortal Minds

Some day it will be possible to load all the lectures, papers, books and SW produced by an expert into an intelligent system

After that system processes, indexes and restructures the info in those artifacts, it will be possible to have a conversation in plain English (or some other language) with that system

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Distances Are Contracting! Distances Are Increasing!

Because of the ever-decreasing costs of verbal, text, video communications, it is becoming easier to stay in touch of anyone, regardless of their physical location
Solitude is the order of the day as many children & adults spend their free time surfing, chatting, playing computer games, instead of spending it on interacting with friends or family 47

Computers may Become too Powerful!

Computers keep on becoming more and more powerful, gaining more and more autonomy They are being equipped with fail-safe and selfhealing technologies Are we heading towards a future where the role of the masters and the slaves will be reversed?

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Course Objectives

1. 2. 3.

To achieve a beginners proficiency in Web page development

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Why JavaScript?
HTML is great for static Web pages; however, supports only rudimentary interactivity through forms and hyperlinks

JavaScript can be used (along with HTML) to develop interactive content for the Web

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Some of things that JavaScript cannot do!

The following file ops. on the client computer:
Read Rename Create -- Modify -- Delete

Create graphics (although, it does have the ability to format pages through HTML including the placement of graphics)
Any network programming bar one function: the ability to download a file to the browser 51 specified through an arbitrary URL

Advantages of Client-Side Scripting

Reduced server load as it does not have to send messages to the users browser about missing or incorrect data

Reduced network traffic as the forms data is sent only once instead of many tos and fros

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Object: A named collection of properties

(data, state) & methods (instructions, behavior)
A collection of properties & methods All objects have the name property: it holds the name of the object (collection) name method 2

prop 1 prop 2

prop 3
prop 4

prop 5
method 3
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method 1

Functions
A named group of statements that is put together once and then used (by reference) repeatedly on a Web page Code becomes easier to read, understand and maintain

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Local and Global Variables

Local or Function-level Variable Effective only in the function in which they are declared Global Variables Visible everywhere on the Web page

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Image Preloading
The Image object can be used to download an image into the cache before it is actually needed for display

This technique can be used to create smooth animations or to display one of several images based on the requirement

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Course Objectives

1. 2. 3.

To become familiar with popular PC productivity software

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Productivity SW
The lectures and assignments were designed to give a brief introduction, and no more All we desired was for you to become able to open the package and perform some trivial tasks With time, you will find more and more use for these packages, and gradually develop an expertise that later will become very useful in your career 58

Course Objectives

1. 2. 3.

To build an appreciation for the fundamental concepts in computing To achieve a beginners proficiency in Web page development

To become familiar with popular PC productivity software

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 How successful were we in helping you achieve those objectives? Please do let us know so that we can modify the future offerings of this course accordingly. I will be most grateful

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 I have enjoyed doing this course with you very much Hope it was enjoyable & useful for you as well I thank you for your attention and especially for your eMail & discussion board messages A good number of those messages were quite informative and I thank you for sharing that info with me Until the next time when we meet
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