Why Program?
Chapter 1
Computers Want to be Helpful...
What
• Computers are built for one purpose - to Next?
do things for us
• But we need to speak their language to
describe what we want done
• Users have it easy - someone already put What What What
many different programs (instructions) into Next? Next? Next?
the computer and users just pick the ones
they want to use What What What
Next? Next? Next?
Users vs. Programmers
• Users see computers as a set of tools - word processor, spreadsheet, map,
to-do list, etc.
• Programmers learn the computer “ways” and the computer language
• Programmers have some tools that allow them to build new tools
• Programmers sometimes write tools for lots of users and sometimes
programmers write little “helpers” for themselves to automate a task
Why be a Programmer?
• To get some task done - we are the user and programmer
- Clean up survey data
• To produce something for others to use - a programming job
- Fix a performance problem in the Sakai software
- Add a guestbook to a web site
What is Code? Software? A Program?
• A sequence of stored instructions
- It is a little piece of our intelligence in the computer
- We figure something out and then we encode it and then give it to
someone else to save them the time and energy of figuring it out
• A piece of creative art - particularly when we do a good job on user
experience
Hardware Architecture
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/RaspberryPi.jpg
Generic
Software What
Next? Computer
Input Central
and Output Processing
Devices Unit
Secondary
Memory
Main
Memory
Definitions
• Central Processing Unit: Runs the Program - The CPU is What
always wondering “what to do next”. Not the brains Next?
exactly - very dumb but very very fast
• Input Devices: Keyboard, Mouse, Touch Screen
• Output Devices: Screen, Speakers, Printer, DVD Burner
• Main Memory: Fast small temporary storage - lost on reboot - aka RAM
• Secondary Memory: Slower large permanent storage - lasts until deleted - disk
drive / memory stick
Generic
Software What
Next? Computer
Input Central
and Output Processing
Devices Unit
Secondary
if x< 3: print Memory
Main
Memory
Generic
Software What
Next? Computer
Input Central
and Output Processing
Devices Unit
01001001 Secondary
00111001 Memory
Main
Memory
Machine
Language
Python as a Language
Python is the language of the Python
Interpreter and those who can converse with
it. An individual who can speak Python is
known as a Pythonista. It is a very uncommon
skill, and may be hereditary. Nearly all known
Pythonistas use software initially developed
by Guido van Rossum.
Early Learner: Syntax Errors
• We need to learn the Python language so we can communicate our instructions to
Python. In the beginning we will make lots of mistakes and speak gibberish like
small children.
• When you make a mistake, the computer does not think you are “cute”. It says
“syntax error” - given that it knows the language and you are just learning it. It
seems like Python is cruel and unfeeling.
• You must remember that you are intelligent and can learn. The computer is simple
and very fast, but cannot learn. So it is easier for you to learn Python than for the
computer to learn English...
Talking to Python
csev$ python3
Python 3.5.1 (v3.5.1:37a07cee5969, Dec 5 2015, 21:12:44)
[GCC 4.2.1 (Apple Inc. build 5666) (dot 3)] on darwinType
"help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>
What
next?
csev$ python3
Python 3.5.1 (v3.5.1:37a07cee5969, Dec 5 2015, 21:12:44)
[GCC 4.2.1 (Apple Inc. build 5666) (dot 3)] on darwinType
"help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> x = 1
>>> print(x)
1
>>> x = x + 1 This is a good test to make sure that you have
>>> print(x) Python correctly installed. Note that quit() also
2 works to end the interactive session.
>>> exit()
What Do We Say?
Elements of Python
• Vocabulary / Words - Variables and Reserved words (Chapter 2)
• Sentence structure - valid syntax patterns (Chapters 3-5)
• Story structure - constructing a program for a purpose
Reserved Words
You cannot use reserved words as variable names / identifiers
False await else import pass
None break except in raise
True class finally is return
and continue for lambda try
as def from nonlocal while
assert del global not with
async elif if or yield
Sentences or Lines
x = 2 Assignment statement
x = x + 2 Assignment with expression
print(x) Print statement
Variable Operator Constant Function
Programming Paragraphs
Python Scripts
• Interactive Python is good for experiments and programs of 3-4 lines
long.
• Most programs are much longer, so we type them into a file and tell
Python to run the commands in the file.
• In a sense, we are “giving Python a script”.
• As a convention, we add “.py” as the suffix on the end of these files to
indicate they contain Python.
Interactive versus Script
• Interactive
- You type directly to Python one line at a time and it responds
• Script
- You enter a sequence of statements (lines) into a file using a text
editor and tell Python to execute the statements in the file
Program Steps or Program Flow
• Like a recipe or installation instructions, a program is a sequence of
steps to be done in order.
• Some steps are conditional - they may be skipped.
• Sometimes a step or group of steps is to be repeated.
• Sometimes we store a set of steps to be used over and over as
needed several places throughout the program (Chapter 4).
Sequential Steps
x=2 Program:
Output:
print(x) x = 2
print(x) 2
x=x+2 x = x + 2 4
print(x)
print(x)
When a program is running, it flows from one step to the next. As
programmers, we set up “paths” for the program to follow.
x=5
Conditional Steps
Yes
x < 10 ?
print('Smaller') Program:
No Output:
x = 5
Yes if x < 10: Smaller
x > 20 ? print('Smaller') Finis
if x > 20:
print('Bigger') print('Bigger')
No
print('Finis')
print('Finis')
n=5 Repeated Steps
No Yes Output:
n>0? Program:
5
print(n) n = 5 4
while n > 0 :
3
print(n)
n = n -1 n = n – 1 2
print('Blastoff!') 1
Blastoff!
Loops (repeated steps) have iteration variables that
print('Blastoff')
change each time through a loop.
Summary
• This is a quick overview of Chapter 1
• We will revisit these concepts throughout the course
• Focus on the big picture
