Introduction to Software Development

David Weston

Birkbeck, University of London

Autumn/ Spring

Acknowledgement: Many of these slides are based on slides accompanying the course text

1
 Lectures, Labs, Assessments

 This module will be assessed by

• 75% written exam (2 hours) in the Summer Term.
• 25% from 4 pieces of coursework.
 Autumn Term – See ISD Term 1 Overview for full details
• Lecture and Lab each Friday evening 18:00 – 21:00
• Coursework 1 - Released in Week 4.
• Coursework 2 - Released in Week 10.
 Spring Term – See ISD Term 2 Overview for full details
• Lecture and Lab each Monday evening 18:00 – 21:00
• Coursework 1 - Released in Week 4.
• Coursework 2 - Released in Week 10.

2
 Accessing module resources

 You can access copies of the lecture notes, lab sheets, class
work, class work solutions etc. from Moodle

http://moodle.bbk.ac.uk/

 For the next couple of weeks, the material may be found on my

website:

http://www.dcs.bbk.ac.uk/~dweston/

3
 Books

 The course text is:

Python for Everyone, 2nd Edition by Cay S. Horstmann and
Rance D. Necaise, John Wiley Sons; 2016, ISBN: 978-1-119-05655-3

 Other recommended reading is:

Think Python: How to Think Like a Computer Scientist by
Allen B. Downey, O'Reilly Media; 2 edition (December 28, 2015).

You can download this book for free from:

http://greenteapress.com/thinkpython2/thinkpython2.pdf

There is also an interactive version of this book at:

http://interactivepython.org/runestone/static/thinkcspy/index.html

4
 Advice to users of Display Screen Equipment

 Posture
• http://www.safecomputingtips.com/ergonomic-office-desk-
setup/
(informative picture of posture)

 Repetitive Strain Injury

 Eye Strain

 https://www.dcs.bbk.ac.uk/intranet/index.php/VDU_Advice

5
 Aims of Week 1

 In this lecture you will learn:

• About computer hardware, software and programming
• How to write and execute your first Python program
• How to diagnose and fix programming errors
• How to use pseudocode to describe an algorithm

6
 Computer Programs

 A computer program tells a computer the sequence of steps

needed to complete a specific task
• The program consists of a very large number of primitive
(simple) instructions
 Computers can carry out a wide range of tasks because they can
execute different programs
• Each program is designed to direct the computer to work on
a specific task
Programming:
 The act of designing, implementing, and testing computer
programs

7
Hardware and Software
THE BUILDING BLOCKS THAT MAKE UP A
COMPUTER

8
 Hardware

 Hardware consists of the physical elements in a computer

system.
• Some very visible examples are the monitor, the mouse,
external storage, and the keyboard.
 The central processing unit (CPU) performs program control
and data processing
 Storage devices include memory (RAM) and secondary storage
• Hard disk
• Flash drives
• CD/DVD drives
 Input / output devices allow the user to interact with the
computer
• Mouse, keyboard, printer, screen…

9
Simple View of a Computer’s Components

10
 The CPU

 The CPU has two components, the control unit and the
arithmetic logic unit
 The control unit directs operation of the processor.
• All computer resources are managed by the control unit.
• It controls communication and co-ordination between
input/output devices.
• It reads and interprets instructions and determines the
sequence for processing the data.
• It provides timing and control signals
 The arithmetic logic unit contains the circuitry to perform
calculations and do comparisons.
• It is the workhorse portion of the computer and its job is to
do precisely what the control unit tells it to do.

11
 Storage

 There are two types of storage:

• Primary Storage
• Secondary Storage
 Primary storage is composed of memory chips: electronic circuits
that can store data as long as it is provided electric power
 Secondary storage provides a slower, less expensive storage that
is persistent: the data persists without electric power
 Computers store both data and programs
• The data and program are located in secondary storage and
loaded into memory when the program is executed

12
 Memory

 A simple way to envision primary memory is a table of cells all

the same size, one byte, and each containing a unique address
beginning with 0.
• The “typical” computer has a main memory ranging from 4
gigabytes (GB), to 32 GB.
 How big is a gigabyte?
• One bit is 0 or 1.
• A byte is 8 bits.
• A kilobyte, KB, is 1024 bytes, or “about 1 thousand bytes.”
• A megabyte, MB, is 1,048,576 bytes, or “about 1 million
bytes.”
• A gigabyte, GB, is 1,073,741,824 bytes or “about 1 billion
bytes.”

13
 Executing a Program

 Program instructions and data (such as text, numbers, audio, or

video) are stored in digital format
 When a program is started, it is brought into memory, where the
CPU can read it.
 The CPU runs the program one instruction at a time.
• The program may react to user input.

 The instructions and user input guide the program execution

• The CPU reads data (including user input), modifies it, and
writes it back to memory, the screen, or secondary storage.

14
 Software

 Software is typically realized as an application program

• Microsoft Word is an example of software
• Computer Games are software
• Operating systems and device drivers are also software
 Software
• Software is a sequence of instructions and decisions
implemented in some language and translated to a form that
can be executed or run on the computer.
 Computers execute very basic instructions in rapid succession
• The basic instructions can be grouped together to perform
complex tasks
 Programming is the act of designing and implementing computer
programs

15
Algorithms

16
 Introduction to Algorithms

 If you want a computer to perform a task, you start by writing

an algorithm
 An Algorithm is:
• a sequence (the order mattering) of actions to take to
accomplish the given task
• An algorithm is like a recipe; it is a set of instructions written
in a sequence that achieves a goal
 For complex problems software developers write an algorithm
before they attempt to write a computer program
 For this class we will ALWAYS write an algorithm for each project
 Developing algorithms is a fundamental problem solving skill
• It has uses in many fields outside of Computer Science

17
 Algorithm: Formal Definition

An algorithm describes a sequence of steps that is:

1. Unambiguous
a. No “assumptions” are required to execute the algorithm
b. The algorithm uses precise instructions
2. Executable
a. The algorithm can be carried out in practice
3. Terminating
a. The algorithm will eventually come to an end, or halt

18
 Problem Solving: Algorithm Design

 Algorithms are simply plans

• Detailed plans that describe the steps to solve a specific
problem
 You already know quite a few
• Calculate the area of a circle
• Find the length of the hypotenuse of a triangle
 Some problems are more complex and require more steps
• Calculate PI to 100 decimal places
• Calculate the trajectory of a satellite

19
 A Simple Example

 A simple algorithm to get yourself a drink of orange juice

• For simplicity, the following are true:
• You have a clean glass in the cabinet
• You have orange juice in your refrigerator

 So one valid algorithm is:

1. get a glass from your cabinet
2. go to the refrigerator and get the orange juice container
3. open the orange juice container
4. pour the orange juice from the container into the glass
5. put the orange juice container back in the refrigerator
6. drink your juice

20
 Second Example: Selecting a Car

Problem Statement:
 You have the choice of buying two cars.
 One is more fuel efficient than the other, but also more
expensive.
 You know the price and fuel efficiency (in miles per gallon, mpg)
of both cars.
 You plan to keep the car for ten years.
 Which car is the better deal?

21
 Developing the Algorithm
Determine the inputs and outputs
From the problem statement we know:
• Car 1: Purchase price, Fuel Efficiency
• Car 2: Purchase price, Fuel Efficiency
• Price per gallon = £4.00
• Annual miles driven= 15,000
• Length of time = 10 years
For each car we need to calculate:
• Annual fuel consumed for each car
• Annual fuel cost for each car
• Operating cost for each car
• Total cost of each Car
 Then we select the car with the lowest total cost

22
 Translating the Algorithm to pseudocode
 Break down the problem into smaller tasks
• ‘Calculate total cost’ for each car
• To calculate the total cost for each year we need to calculate the
operating cost
• The operating cost depends on the annual fuel cost
• The annual fuel cost is the price per gallon * the annual fuel
consumed
• The annual fuel consumed is the annual miles drive / fuel
efficiency
 Describe each subtask as pseudocode
• total cost = purchase price + operating cost

23
 The Pseudocode

For each Car, compute the total cost

Annual fuel consumed = annual miles driven / fuel efficiency
Annual fuel cost = price per gallon * annual fuel consumed
Operating cost = Length of time * annual fuel cost
Total cost = purchase price + operating cost
If total cost1 < total cost2
Choose Car1
Else
Choose Car2

24
 Bank Account Example

 Problem Statement:
• You put £10,000 into a bank account that earns 5 percent
interest per year. How many years does it take for the
account balance to be double the original?
 How would you solve it?
• Manual method
• Make a table
• Add lines until done
• Use a spreadsheet!
• Write a formula
• Per line, based on line above

25
 Develop the algorithm steps

• You put $10,000 into a bank account that earns 5 percent

interest per year. How many years does it take for the
account balance to be double the original?
 Break it into steps
• Start with a year value of 0 and a balance of $10,000
• Repeat the following while the balance is less than $20,000
• Add 1 to the year value
• Multiply the balance by 1.05
• (5% increase)

• Report the final year value as the answer

26
 Translate to pseudocode

 Pseudocode
• Half-way between natural language and a programming
language
 Modified Steps
• Set the year value of 0
• Set the balance to £10,000
• While the balance is less than £20,000
• Add 1 to the year value
• Multiply the balance by 1.05
• Report the final year value as the answer
 The pseudocode is easily translated into Python

27
 The Python Language

 In the early 1990’s, Guido van Rossum designed what would

become the Python programming language
 Van Rossum was dissatisfied with the languages available
• They were optimized to write large programs that executed
quickly
 He needed a language that could not only be used to create
programs quickly but also make them easy to modify
• It was designed to have a much simpler and cleaner syntax than
other popular languages such as Java, C and C++ (making it
easier to learn)
• Python is interpreted, making it easier to develop and test short
programs
 Python programs are executed by the Python interpreter
• The interpreter reads your program and executes it

28
 Programming Environments

 There are several ways of creating a computer program

• Using an Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
• Using a text editor
 You should use the method you are most comfortable with.
• I will use IDLE which comes with the installation of Python

29
 IDE components

 The source code editor can help programming by:

• Listing line numbers of code
• Color lines of code (comments, text…)
• Auto-indent source code
 Output window
 Debugger

30
IDLE Shell - See Lab Sheet for more Detail

31
IDLE Text Editor

32
 Your first program

 Traditional ‘Hello World’ program in Python

• We will examine this program in the next section

• Typing the program into your IDE would be good practice!
• Be careful of spelling e.g., ‘print’ vs. ‘primt’
• PyTHon iS CaSe SeNsItiVe.

33
 Text editor programming
 You can also use a simple text editor to write your source code.
This approach is not recommended.
 Once saved as hello.py, you can use a console window to:
• Compile the program
• Run the program
• On windows this console window is called the command
prompt. You will need to be able to move to the directory
containing your program. We shall return to this next term

Compile/execute
Output

34
 Organize your work

 Your ‘source code’ is stored in .py files

 Create a folder for this course
 Create one folder per program inside the course folder
• A program can consist of several .py files
 Be sure you know where your IDE stores your files
• You need to be able to find you files
 Backup your files:
• To a USB flash drive
• To a network drive

35
 Python interactive mode

 Like other languages you can write/save a complete Python

program in a file and let the interpreter execute the instructions
all at once.
 Alternatively you can run instructions one at a time using
interactive mode.
• It allows quick ‘test programs’ to be written.
• Interactive mode allows you to write python statements
directly in the IDLE shell

36
 Source Code to a Running Program

 The compiler reads your program and generates byte code

instructions (simple instructions for the Python Virtual machine)
• The Python Virtual machine is a program that is similar to the
CPU of your computer
• Any necessary libraries (e.g. for drawing graphics) are
automatically located and included by the virtual machine

37
 “Hello World”

 Typed the following into the Editor:

# My first Python program
print(“Hello World!”)

 File saved as “hello.py”

 This is “Step Two Write a simple program” from page 7 in your
text.
 Remember – Python is case sensitive
• You have to enter the upper and lower case letters exactly as
this appear above

38
 Analyzing The Program

 A Python program contains one or more lines of

instructions (statements) that will be translated and
executed by the interpreter
# My first Python program
Print(“Hello World!”)

 The first line is a comment (a statement that

provides descriptive information about the program to
programmers).
 The second line contains a statement that prints a
line of text onscreen “Hello, World!”

39
 Basic Python Syntax: Print

 Using the Python ‘print()’ function.

• A function is a collection of programming instructions that carry
out a particular task (in this case to print a value onscreen).
• It’s code that somebody else wrote for you!

40
 Syntax for Python Functions

 To use, or call, a function in Python you need to specify:

• The name of the function that you want to use (in the
previous example the name was print)
• Any values (arguments) needed by the function to carry out
its task (in this case, “Hello World!”).
• Arguments are enclosed in parentheses and multiple
arguments are separated with commas.
• A sequence of characters enclosed in quotations marks are
called a string

41
 More Examples of the print Function

 Printing numerical values

• print(3 + 4)
• Evaluates the expression 3 + 4 and displays 7
 Passing multiple values to the function
• print(“the answer is”, 6 * 7)
• Displays The answer is 42
• Each value passed to the function is displayed, one after another,
with a blank space after each value
 By default the print function starts a new line after its arguments
are printed
• print(“Hello”)
• print(“World!”)
• Prints two lines of text
• Hello
• World!

42
 Our Second Program (Page 12, printtest.py)

##
# Sample Program that demonstrates the print function
#
# Prints 7

print(3 + 4)

# Print Hello World! on two lines

print(“Hello”)
print(“World!”)

# Print multiple values with a single print function call

print(“My favorite number are”, 3 + 4, “and” 3 + 10)

# Print Hello World! on two lines

print(“Goodbye”)
print()
print(“Hope to see you again”)

43
 Errors

 There are two Categories of Errors:

• Compile-time Errors
• aka Syntax Errors
• Spelling, capitalization, punctuation
• Ordering of statements, matching of parenthesis, quotes…
• No executable program is created by the compiler
• Correct first error listed, then compile again.
• Repeat until all errors are fixed
• Run-time Errors
• aka Logic Errors
• The program runs, but produces unintended results
• The program may ‘crash’

44
 Syntax Errors

 Syntax error are caught by the compiler

 What happens if you
• Miss-capitalize a word: Print("Hello World!")
• Leave out quotes print(Hello World!)
• Mismatch quotes print("Hello World!')
• Don’t match brackets print('Hello'

45
 Logic Errors

 What happens if you

• Divide by zero print(1/0)
• Misspell output print("Hello, Word!")
• Forget to output Remove line 2
 Programs will compile and run
• The output may not be as expected

46
 Summary: Computer Basics

 Computers rapidly execute very simple instructions

 A Program is a sequence of instructions and decisions
 Programming is the art (and science) of designing,
implementing, and testing computer programs
 The Central Processing Unit (CPU) performs program control
and data processing
 Storage devices include memory and secondary storage (e.g., a
USB Flash Drive)

47
 Summary: Python

 Python was designed in a way that makes it easier to learn than

other programming languages such as Java, C and C++.
 The designers goal was to give Python simpler and cleaner
syntax.
 Set aside some time to become familiar with the programming
environment that you will use for your class work.
• It is important to practice with the tool so you can focus on
learning Python
 An editor is a program for entering and modifying text, such as a
Python program.

48
 Summary: Python

 Python is case sensitive.

• You must be careful about distinguishing between upper and
lowercase letters.
 The Python compiler translates source code into byte code
instructions that are executed by the Virtual machine.
 A function is called by specifying the function’s name and its
parameters.
 A string is a sequence of characters enclosed in quotation marks.

49
 Summary: Errors and pseudo code

 A compile-time error is a violation of the programming language

rules that is detected by the compiler.
 A run-time error causes a program to take an action that the
programmer did not intend.
 Pseudo code is an informal description of a sequence of steps for
solving a problem.
 An algorithm for solving a problem is a sequence of steps that is
unambiguous, executable, and terminating.

50
 Week 1 Homework

 Complete Lab Sheet 1 – not assessed. Solutions will be posted

next week on Moodle.
 Read Chapter 1 of Python for Everyone and do the self-check
questions as you go along – the answers are at the end of each
chapter!
 Prepare for next week by reading Chapter 2 of Python for
Everyone excluding Section 2.6.
 If you have time, do some of the review and programming
exercises from Chapter 1.

51