Lecture 05: Computer Software & Prog.

CS 101: Introduction to Computing

Computer Software and Programming

Dr. Zahid Halim

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi

Lecture 05: Computer Software & Prog. CS 101: Introduction to Computing

Computer Programming

• Computer programming is the process of writing

instructions that direct a computer to carry out specific
tasks

• A computer program is a set of step-by-step

instructions that tell a computer how to solve a problem
or carry out a task
• The instructions that make up a computer program
are often referred to as code
• A program is written in a computer programming
language

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi

Lecture 05: Computer Software & Prog. CS 101: Introduction to Computing

Programming Languages (-1-)

• A programming language is an artificial
language designed for creating instructions that a
computer can carry out
– In contrast, the languages we speak [e.g., English/Urdu] are
natural languages
• Programming languages differ from natural
languages in that
– natural languages are used for interaction between people
– programming languages allow humans to communicate
instructions to machines as well as machine-to-machine
interaction

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi

Lecture 05: Computer Software & Prog. CS 101: Introduction to Computing

Programming Languages (-2-)

• Programming languages can be divided into two major
categories
– Low-level languages
• Requires programmer to write instructions for the lowest level of
computer’s hardware
– Easy for computer to understand; Difficult for humans
• Examples: Machine Language, Assembly Language
– High-level languages
• Makes programming process easier by providing commands
such as PRINT or WRITE instead of unintelligible strings of 1s
and 0s
• Examples: FORTRAN, C, C++, Java, Python …
• Languages can also be categorized by generations
Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi
Lecture 05: Computer Software & Prog. CS 101: Introduction to Computing

Programming Language Categorization

3GL, 4GL
HIGH-LEVEL
LANGUAGES
2GL ASSEMBLY
LANGUAGE LOW-LEVEL
LANGUAGES
1st Generation
Language [1GL] MACHINE LANGUAGE

HARDWARE

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi

Lecture 05: Computer Software & Prog. CS 101: Introduction to Computing
Machine Language /
Machine Code

• The first languages for programming computers – sometimes

referred to as first-generation languages

– Consists of a set of commands, represented as a series of 1s

and 0s, corresponding to the instruction set understood by a
microprocessor
– A machine language is specific to a particular CPU or
microprocessor family

• High-level languages are (mostly) translated [compiled] to

machine language in order to be understood and executed by
the microprocessor

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi

Lecture 05: Computer Software & Prog. CS 101: Introduction to Computing

Assembly Language

• Allows programmers to use abbreviated command words

rather than 1s and 0s used in machine languages
– A significant improvement over machine languages
• Mnemonics such as ADD, SUB, MUL, DIV, JMP etc
are more understandable than 0001, 0100 etc
– Also referred to as second-generation languages
– Assembly languages are also machine specific
• Each assembly language command corresponds on a
one-to-one basis to a machine language instruction

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi

Lecture 05: Computer Software & Prog. CS 101: Introduction to Computing

Algorithm
A concept that pervades all areas of computer science.

Algorithm is a process that a computer could carry out to

complete a well defined task within finite time and
resources.

The objective of computer science is to solve problems

by developing, analyzing, and implementing
algorithmic solutions.

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi

Lecture 05: Computer Software & Prog. CS 101: Introduction to Computing

Al-Khwarizmi Principle
• All complex problems can be broken into simpler
sub-problems.
• Solve a complex problem by breaking it down into
smaller sub-problems and then solve them (in a
specified order), one at a time.
• When all the steps are solved, the original problem
itself has also been solved.
• This process is called Algorithm.

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi

Lecture 05: Computer Software & Prog. CS 101: Introduction to Computing

Computer Programming
• Computer is a powerful tool
• It is not intelligent!
• In order to use computer to solve our problems, we
must tell it what we want done and the order in which
we want it done.
• These instructions are called computer program.
• This process is called computer programming.
• The person giving these instructions is called a
computer programmer.

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi

Lecture 05: Computer Software & Prog. CS 101: Introduction to Computing

Platforms that can be programmed

• Desktop applications
• Web applications
• Mobile applications
• Database applications
• Game development

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi

Lecture 05: Computer Software & Prog. CS 101: Introduction to Computing

Mobile App Types Native apps

• The Native app is an app developed for the chosen OS on the device that
can be accessed from the app launch icon.

• These applications are called native because they are written in the native
programming language for a specific platform.

• For Android OS, this android coding language is Java, while ios native
language is Objective-C or Swift Mobile web apps.

• Mobile web apps may not be mobile apps per se. These are rather websites
that look and feel a lot like native apps.

• The fact is that a web application is, by nature, a website that is adapted and
optimized for any smartphone.

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi

Lecture 05: Computer Software & Prog. CS 101: Introduction to Computing

Mobile App Types Hybrid apps

• They are a symbiosis of native apps & web apps.

• Like native apps, they may be loaded from within the app, and they can also
use various features of the device they’re installed on.

• Hybrid apps are a mix of web and native apps, which means their cross-
platform and have access to the functionality of a smartphone.

• These apps may be found exclusively on the markets like Google Play and
the App Store.

• Just like web applications, their platform is HTML5. They are processed
through the browser, which is built into the application itself.

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi

Lecture 05: Computer Software & Prog. CS 101: Introduction to Computing
Choosing the Best Programming Language for
App/web/desktop etc Development
JavaScript
•JavaScript is the #1 language of the web.
•The rise of frameworks like jQuery, Angular, Vue, Svelte, and React.js has made
JavaScript even more popular. Since you just cannot stay away from the web, it’s
better to learn JavaScript sooner than later.

Java
•Java is another popular, powerful, and effective programming language with lots
of demand for Job and career growth.
•While Java is primarily a server-side programming language and is used for
creating robust backend servers you can also use Java programming language
for creating Android apps.
SQL
•Structured Query Language (SQL) is a standardized programming language that
is used to manage relational databases and perform various operations on the
data in them.

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi

Lecture 05: Computer Software & Prog. CS 101: Introduction to Computing

Swift
•If you are thinking about iOS development, like making apps for iPhone
and iPad, then you should seriously consider learning Swift in 2022.

Kotlin

•If you are thinking seriously about Android App development, then Kotlin
is the programming language to learn in 2022. It is probably the next big
thing happening in the Android world.

•Even though Java is my preferred language, Kotlin has got native

support, and many IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA and Android Studio is
supporting Kotile for Android development.

C / C ++
•C languages are positioned as high-performance languages, and this is
important, especially if we are talking about something heavy like a mobile
3D game.

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi

Lecture 05: Computer Software & Prog. CS 101: Introduction to Computing

https://www.devjobsscanner.com/blog/top-8-most-demanded-
languages-in-2022/

MUST VISIT

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi

Lecture 05: Computer Software & Prog. CS 101: Introduction to Computing

References
• Computer Concepts, by Parsons & Oja
[Chapters 3]
• https://fireart.studio/blog/top-most-popular-
programming-languages-for-mobile-app-development/

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi