Chapter 1 Introduction to Computers

and C++ Programming

Outline
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5

Introduction
What Is a Computer?
Computer Organization
Evolution of Operating Systems
Personal Computing, Distributed Computing and Client/Server
Computing
1.6
Machine Languages, Assembly Languages and High-level
Languages
1.7
The History of C
1.8
The C Standard Library
1.9
The Key Software Trend: Object Technology
1.10
C++ and C++ How to Program
1.11
Java and Java How to Program
1.12
Other High-level Languages
1.13
Structured Programming
1.14
The Basics of a typical C Program Development Environment
Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Chapter 1 Introduction to Computers

and C++ Programming
Outline
1.15
1.16
1.17
1.18

Hardware Trends
History of the Internet
History of the World Wide Web
General Notes About C and this Book

Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Objectives
In this chapter, you will learn:
To understand basic computer concepts.
To become familiar with different types of programming
languages.
To become familiar with the history of the C programming
language.
To become aware of the C standard library.
To understand the elements of a typical C program development
environment.
To appreciate why it is important to learn C in a first programming
course.
To appreciate why C provides a foundation for further study of
programming languages in general and of C++ and Java in
particular.
Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1.1 Introduction
We will learn
The C programming language
Structured programming and proper programming techniques

This book also covers

C++
Chapter 15 23 introduce the C++ programming language

Java
Chapters 24 30 introduce the Java programming language

This course is appropriate for

Technically oriented people with little or no programming
experience
Experienced programmers who want a deep and rigorous
treatment of the language
Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1.2

What is a Computer?

Computer
Device capable of performing computations and making
logical decisions
Computers process data under the control of sets of
instructions called computer programs

Hardware
Various devices comprising a computer
Keyboard, screen, mouse, disks, memory, CD-ROM, and
processing units

Software
Programs that run on a computer
Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1.3 Computer Organization

Six logical units in every computer:

1. Input unit

Obtains information from input devices (keyboard, mouse)

2. Output unit

Outputs information (to screen, to printer, to control other

devices)

3. Memory unit

Rapid access, low capacity, stores input information

4. Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU)

Performs arithmetic calculations and logic decisions

5. Central processing unit (CPU)

Supervises and coordinates the other sections of the computer

6. Secondary storage unit

Cheap, long-term, high-capacity storage

Stores inactive programs

Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1.4 Evolution of Operating Systems

Batch processing
Do only one job or task at a time

Operating systems
Manage transitions between jobs
Increased throughput
Amount of work computers process

Multiprogramming
Computer resources are shared by many jobs or tasks

Timesharing
Computer runs a small portion of one users job then moves
on to service the next user
Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1.5 Personal Computing, Distributed

Computing, and Client/Server Computing
Personal computers
Economical enough for individual

Distributed computing
Computing distributed over networks

Client/server computing
Sharing of information across computer networks between
file servers and clients (personal computers)

Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1.6 Machine Languages, Assembly

Languages, and High-level Languages
Three types of programming languages
1. Machine languages

Strings of numbers giving machine specific instructions

Example:
+1300042774
+1400593419
+1200274027

2. Assembly languages

English-like abbreviations representing elementary computer

operations (translated via assemblers)
Example:
LOAD
ADD
STORE

BASEPAY
OVERPAY
GROSSPAY

Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1.6 Machine Languages, Assembly

Languages, and High-level Languages
Three types of programming languages (continued)
3. High-level languages

Codes similar to everyday English

Use mathematical notations (translated via compilers)
Example:
grossPay = basePay + overTimePay

Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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1.7 History of C
C
Evolved by Ritchie from two previous programming
languages, BCPL and B
Used to develop UNIX
Used to write modern operating systems
Hardware independent (portable)
By late 1970's C had evolved to "Traditional C"

Standardization
Many slight variations of C existed, and were incompatible
Committee formed to create a "unambiguous, machineindependent" definition
Standard created in 1989, updated in 1999
Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

12

1.8 The C Standard Library

C programs consist of pieces/modules called
functions
A programmer can create his own functions
Advantage: the programmer knows exactly how it works
Disadvantage: time consuming

Programmers will often use the C library functions

Use these as building blocks

Avoid re-inventing the wheel

If a premade function exists, generally best to use it rather than
write your own
Library functions carefully written, efficient, and portable

Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1.9 The Key Software Trend: Object

Technology
Objects
Reusable software components that model items in the real
world
Meaningful software units
Date objects, time objects, paycheck objects, invoice objects,
audio objects, video objects, file objects, record objects, etc.
Any noun can be represented as an object

Very reusable
More understandable, better organized, and easier to
maintain than procedural programming
Favor modularity

Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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1.10 C++ and C++ How to Program

C++
Superset of C developed by Bjarne Stroustrup at Bell Labs
"Spruces up" C, and provides object-oriented capabilities
Object-oriented design very powerful
10 to 100 fold increase in productivity

Dominant language in industry and academia

Learning C++
Because C++ includes C, some feel it is best to master C,
then learn C++
Starting in Chapter 15, we begin our introduction to C++

Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

15

1.11 Java and Java How to Program

Java is used to

Create Web pages with dynamic and interactive content

Develop large-scale enterprise applications
Enhance the functionality of Web servers
Provide applications for consumer devices (such as cell
phones, pagers and personal digital assistants)

Java How to Program

Closely followed the development of Java by Sun
Teaches first-year programming students the essentials of
graphics, images, animation, audio, video, database,
networking, multithreading and collaborative computing

Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

16

1.12 Other High-level Languages

Other high-level languages
FORTRAN
Used for scientific and engineering applications

COBOL
Used to manipulate large amounts of data

Pascal
Intended for academic use

Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

17

1.13 Structured Programming

Structured programming
Disciplined approach to writing programs
Clear, easy to test and debug and easy to modify

Multitasking
Specifying that many activities run in parallel

Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1.14 Basics of a Typical C Program

Development Environment
Phases of C++ Programs:
1. Edit
2. Preprocess
3. Compile
4. Link
5. Load

Editor

Disk

Preprocessor

Disk

18

Program is created in
the editor and stored
on disk.
Preprocessor program
processes the code.

Compiler

Disk

Compiler creates
object code and stores
it on disk.

Linker

Disk

Linker links the object

code with the libraries

Primary Memory

Loader
Disk

6. Execute

Loader puts program

in memory.
..
..
..

Primary Memory

CPU
Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.
..
..
..

CPU takes each

instruction and
executes it, possibly
storing new data
values as the program
executes.

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1.15 Hardware Trends

Every year or two the following approximately
double:
Amount of memory in which to execute programs
Amount of secondary storage (such as disk storage)
Used to hold programs and data over the longer term

Processor speeds
The speeds at which computers execute their programs

Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

20

1.16 History of the Internet

The Internet enables
Quick and easy communication via e-mail
International networking of computers

Packet switching
The transfer of digital data via small packets
Allows multiple users to send and receive data
simultaneously

No centralized control
If one part of the Internet fails, other parts can still operate

TCP/IP
Bandwidth
Information carrying capacity of communications lines

Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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1.17 History of the World Wide Web

World Wide Web
Locate and view multimedia-based documents on almost any
subject
Makes information instantly and conveniently accessible
worldwide
Possible for individuals and small businesses to get
worldwide exposure
Changing the way business is done

Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1.18 General Notes About C

and This Book
Program clarity
Programs that are convoluted are difficult to read,
understand, and modify

C is a portable language
Programs can run on many different computers
However, portability is an elusive goal

We will do a careful walkthrough of C

Some details and subtleties are not covered
If you need additional technical details
Read the C standard document
Read the book by Kernigan and Ritchie
Copyright 19922004 by Deitel & Associates, Inc. and Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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