An Introduction to

Programming with C++

Sixth Edition

Chapter 1
An Introduction to Programming
 Objectives
• Define the terminology used in programming
• Explain the tasks performed by a programmer
• Describe the qualities of a good programmer
• Understand the employment opportunities for
programmers and software engineers
• Explain the history of programming languages

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 Objectives (cont’d.)
• Explain the sequence, selection, and repetition
structures
• Write simple algorithms using the sequence,
selection, and repetition structures

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 Programming a Computer
• Programs are the directions given to computers
• Programmers are the people who write computer
programs
• Programming Languages enable programmers to
communicate with the computer
– Popular languages: C++, Visual Basic, C#, Java

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 The Programmer’s Job
• Programmers help solve computer problems
• Employee or freelance
• Typical steps involved
– Meet with user to determine problem
(requirements phase)
– Convert the problem into a program
(design and coding)
– Test the program
(progressive process)
– Provide user manual

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 Do I Have What It Takes to Be a
Programmer/Computer Scientist?
• Qualities employers look for
– Logical and analytical thinking
– Close attention to detail
– Patience and persistence
– Ingenuity and creativity
– Good communication skills: technical and
nontechnical
– Business skills (for managerial positions)

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 Employment Opportunities
• Computer programmer: codes a computer solution
– Coding is the process of translating a computer
solution into a language a computer can understand
• Computer software engineer: designs an
appropriate solution to a user’s problem
• Some positions call for both engineering and
programming

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 A Brief History of Programming
Languages
• Enable programmer to communicate with computer
• Different types
– Machine languages
– Assembly languages
– High-level languages

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 Machine Languages
• The first programmers had to write the program
instructions using only combinations of 0s and 1s
– Example: 00101 10001 10000
• Instructions written in 0s and 1s are called
machine language or machine code
• Each type of machine has its own language
• Machine languages are the only way to
communicate directly with the computer
• Programming in machine language: tedious and
error-prone; requires highly trained programmers
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 Assembly Languages
• Assembly languages simplify programmer’s job
• Can use mnemonics instead of 0s and 1s
– Example: ADD bx, ax
• Assembly programs require an assembler to
convert instructions into machine code
• Easier to write programs in assembly language
– But still tedious and requires highly trained
programmers

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 High-Level Languages
• High-level languages allow programmer to use
English-like instructions
– Example: grossPay = hours * rate
– High-level languages are more machine independent
• Programs written in a high-level language can be used
on many different types of computers
• Compilers translate high-level instructions into 0s
and 1s (machine language)
• Interpreters translate the program line by line as
the program is running

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 High-Level Languages (cont’d.)
• When writing a procedure-oriented program, the
programmer concentrates on the major tasks that
the program needs to perform
– Examples: COBOL, BASIC, C
• An object-oriented program requires programmer
to focus on the objects that the program can use to
accomplish its goal
– Examples: C++, Visual Basic, Java, C#
• Object-oriented programs allow for better code-
reuse
– An object can be used in more than one program
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 Control Structures
• Programs are written using three basic structures
– Sequence
• Used in every program you write
– Repetition
• Used in most programs you write
– Selection
• Used in most programs you write
• These are called control structures or logic
structures

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 The Sequence Structure
• The sequence structure directs the computer to
process the program instructions, one after
another, in the order listed in the program
• An algorithm is a set of step-by-step instructions
that accomplish a task
• Example: following a recipe to make cookies

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 The Sequence Structure (cont’d.)

Figure 1-1 An example of the sequence structure

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 The Selection Structure
• Selection structure: makes a decision and then
takes an appropriate action based on that decision
– Also called the decision structure
• Example: waiting or crossing at railroad tracks
depending on signal lights

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 The Selection Structure (cont’d.)

Figure 1-2 An example of the selection structure

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 The Selection Structure (cont’d.)

Figure 1-3 Another example of the selection structure

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 The Repetition Structure
• Repetition structure: directs computer to repeat
one or more instructions until some condition is met
– Also called a loop or iteration

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 The Repetition Structure (cont’d.)

Figure 1-4 Modified algorithm showing the repetition structure

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 The Repetition Structure (cont’d.)
• What could you do if you don’t know precisely how
many steps separate Robin from the boxes?

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 The Repetition Structure (cont’d.)

Figure 1-5 Algorithm showing the modified condition in the repetition structure

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 Summary
• Programs are step-by-step instructions that tell a
computer how to perform a task
• Programmers use programming languages to
communicate with the computer
– First programming languages were machine
languages: 0s and 1s (machine code)
– Next came assembly languages, which allowed for
mnemonics
– High-level languages can be used to create
procedure-oriented programs or object-oriented
programs

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 Summary (cont’d.)
• Algorithm: step-by-step instructions that
accomplish a task (not written in a programming
language)
– Algorithms contain one or more of the following
control structures: sequence, selection, and
repetition
• Sequence structure: process the instructions, one
after another, in the order listed

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 Summary (cont’d.)
• Selection structure: directs the computer to make a
decision and then to select an appropriate action
based on that decision
• Repetition structure: repeat one or more
instructions until some condition is met

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 Lab 1-1: Stop and Analyze
• A local business employs five salespeople and
pays a 3% bonus on a salesperson’s sales
• Your task is to create a program that calculates the
amount of each salesperson’s bonus
• The program should print each salesperson’s name
and bonus amount

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 Lab 1-2: Plan and Create
• Using only the instructions shown below, create an
algorithm that shows the steps an instructor takes
when grading a test that contains 25 questions

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 Lab 1-3: Modify
• Modify the algorithm shown in Lab 1-1 so that it
gives a 3.5% bonus to salespeople selling more
than $2,000
• All other salespeople should receive a 3% bonus
• original algorithm:
repeat 5 times
enter the salesperson’s name and sales amount
calculate bonus by multiplying sales amount by 3%
print the salesperson’s name and bonus amount
end repeat

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 Lab 1-3: Modify
• Modify the algorithm shown in Lab 1-1 so that it
gives a 3.5% bonus to salespeople selling more
than $2,000
• All other salespeople should receive a 3% bonus
• new algorithm(1)
repeat 5 times
enter the salesperson’s name and sales amount
if ( sales amount is greater than $2,000 )
calculate bonus by multiplying sales amount by 3.5%
else
calculate bonus by multiplying sales amount by 3%
end if
print the salesperson’s name and bonus amount
end repeat
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 Lab 1-3: Modify
• Modify the algorithm shown in Lab 1-1 so that it
gives a 3.5% bonus to salespeople selling more
than $2,000
• All other salespeople should receive a 3% bonus
• new algorithm(2)
repeat 5 times
enter the salesperson’s name and sales amount
if ( sales amount is less than $2,000 )
calculate bonus by multiplying sales amount by 3%
else
calculate bonus by multiplying sales amount by 3.5%
end if
print the salesperson’s name and bonus amount
end repeat
• Wrong! Will give incorrect results if sales amount is exactly $2,000
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