The programming is one of the broadest branches of computer scienceBy skillfully manipulating their languages, we can create any software or website. These are present everywhere on the internet, as well as also in all the programs we run.
If you are new to the world of programming This post will help you a lot., where we will show you the basic but most important concepts before beginning to understand any programmatic code.
In the last section we will teach you which are the most used programs, to be able to program any software from scratch. Although not all of them have the same features, depending on what you want to do. They will be extremely useful.
What is computer programming and what is this technology used for?
The programing it has many utilitiesbut its main objective It is about creating software that can be run on a computer.a, or through some program.
To create a schedule A set of rules needs to be established, along with small commands, instructions and expressions, which at first glance It tends to take on a resemblance to a limited natural language.
In other words We can say that a program is composed of rules, Parameters, rules, symbols, and keywords used to form a program. Such programs are created for human use, providing a solution to a problem posed.
The programming language being the responsible for the proper functioning of the programsThis creates a guide so that the computer can respond positively to the software and follow the steps without crashing. These steps and commands They are known as algorithms, whose function is to guide the reading system on what to do.
From the above, we can understand that The programming language is the direct intermediary, between the computer and the user (us), being a reciprocal communication, solving all the problems raised with the use of the functions.
Functions are those that translate the information that the program has on the computer to perform the proposed activities.
Types of programming
Next, we'll show you some of the most common types of programming:
- Sequential Programming: It is known as such because it refers to programs that form and create designs with guidelines that follow a sequence (one after the other), such as Cobol, Basic, etc.
- Structured programmingThis is the type of programming that is designed using modules. Each module is responsible for performing a specific task. When an action is requested, the module responsible for executing it is called, such as Turbo Pascal, Ada, or Modula.
- Object-oriented programming: Used by those languages implemented for the execution of program code to each object within the programming.
- Logic or natural language programmingIt is known as such because the user can give it commands in a natural language (e.g., Prolog) so that the machine can execute it, designed with interfaces to make it possible.
- Artificial intelligence programming: This program is so complex that it can approach human intelligence, capable of developing any knowledge. This type of language has been replacing some programs that require manual execution.
List of the most important concepts you should know about programming science
In order to program we need to handle many concepts, which is known as scientific language.
Today we will explain some of the most important terms in programming:
Programming language
A programming language is the system of symbols and rules used to build software for one or more computers. operate and can effectively solve the needs or problems raised. These languages are actually a line of instructions that dictate input/output operations, calculation, text manipulation, logic/comparison, and storage/retrieval.
The language of communication can be classified into:
- Machine Language: It is a type of instruction-oriented language where instructions are directly assimilated by the computer, without the need for any translation. so that the CPU can understand it and execute the programThese instructions are expressed in a memory size smaller than a bit.
- Low-Level Language: Also known as Assembler, it is the language written in alphabetic codes known as mnemonics, used in symbolic operations and addresses.
- High level languageThis is a language very similar to natural language (human)The program (or script) is the one that directly dictates instructions to the computer. Since it is mostly written in English, it facilitates understanding and writing of what happens within the program.
Algorithms
When we talk about algorithms, We are referring to a set of numbersThis name comes from the Latin word al-Khwarizmi (this being the name of a mathematician and astronomer).
The algorithm It shows us a set of procedures that must be executed to trigger actions in a specific order. In other words, it is responsible for executing the actions of a program as ordered by an operator or user.
We can have a life algorithm, for example:
- Get out of bed.
- Take off your clothes.
- Shower.
- Get dressed.
- Have breakfast.
The same thing happens on a computer, being This is the main actor in the orderswhich must be completed within a specific timeframe. The programs are a set of algorithms already developed and ready to be executed. to be used by the computer.
Source program
It is a notion that is used as a synonym for source codeThat is, it is the one that works together with the algorithms to to dictate instructions to a computer to be executedThese are lines of text written in a programming language capable of imparting all the instructions of a given database.
In a source program, or software It is the one that details all the functions that must be executed, and a programmer is the one who develops those instructions. Both work respecting the chosen programming languages.
It should be noted that, despite the the source program executes the instructions, It's not what the hardware interprets; these signals are first translated into a different language. The translation It is performed by interpretersassemblers and compilers, which in addition to translating, also convert the source program in binary code.
Programming languages They are quite limitedHowever, the way they are structured is quite different, because They vary depending on the programmerThese take on the identity of the one who created them.
Object program
It is named as such that program that is in machine languagewhere it is automatically executed. This is the result of translating a source program, converting it into a language sufficiently understandable by the machine.
Account with object-oriented programming (OOPS). It is the programming technique used for objects in the form of essential building blocks; many consider this type of programming to be the closest to human reasoning, emerging as an excellent solution for programming large software.
Assembler
This It is the term given to the type of computer program capable of translating a source file written in a programming language into an object file. This, It is executed directly by a microprocessor which gives him all the resources he needs to do his job.
In other words, this program It is responsible for completely disassembling a file and reassembling it.However, this involves replacing each of the mnemonic codes that appear in the corresponding operation code in a binary system. This is done with respect to the platform chosen as the target, using the specified parameters.
Types of assemblers
Assemblers are divided into two types:
- Basic Assemblers: They are named this way because they are low-level and consist solely of providing symbolic names to instructions, parameters, or other things such as modes.
- 32-bit modular assemblers: These are high-level assemblers, designed to support 32-bit processor architecture. While they possess the same capabilities as the previous version, Its compatibility is much greater., and can be used in fairly complex programming structures.
Compiler
Compilers They are a type of translator, used to transform a (complete) program from a programming language to anotherThis is known as source code. Although the target language is usually machine code, it can translate it into intermediate code or bytecode. It can also transform it into any text needed at that moment.
Unlike other translators or interpreters, Compilers can bring together various elements or fragments into a single unitforming a library of them, to be reused later. Because of these processes, it is known as compilation.
Compilers are structured with various series or phases, which vary according to their complexity. They can mostly be grouped into two:
- Source program analysis.
- Summary of the object program.
The analysis is responsible for check the correctness of the source programThis depends on the language and its definition of each term. This process includes lexical analysis, syntactic analysis, and semantic analysis.
In the second group, known as synthesis, all object languages are mentioned that are formed by one or more combinations of code generation phases, also formed by a function that allows for code optimization.
Pseudocode
It is the algorithmic description language, being a high-level one, compact informal of the operating principle of computer programs or some other algorithm.
Pseudocodes They use different structural conventionsdesigned for human reading, while the Other codes are interpreted by a machine.For this reason, pseudocodes are independent of any other communication language.
Mainly Pseudocode omits details that it considers negligible.And, useless for human understanding of the algorithm, the specific system codes may be variables. This language It can be completed from anywhere., assuming a natural description, using mathematical numbers in a compact way.
Pseudocode is much easier to understand than a conventional programming language because it is an efficient description, maintaining a completely independent environment from the fundamental principles of an algorithm.
Flowcharts
Flowcharts They have different uses depending on their focusIn programming, these represent a scheme of the steps that a program should have or follow, where they represent algorithms in a simpler way than pseudocode.
This method helps us understand the complete functionality and structure of a program without having to be in front of a computer. But that's not its only advantage; we can also quickly grasp the intended message because it conveys a clear and precise message.
Most programmers use this method before writing programs, thanks to its structuring capabilities. It offers a less rigid level of visual representation than pseudocode.
Coding
Coding is a phase that is carried out once programming has been completed. of the software. In this stage, some algorithms are translated into a specific programming language. These are defined beforehand.
When coding an algorithm, we must first know the type of language we will be translating into. The program's algorithm is responsible for determining its logic, regardless of the programming language in which it is written.
In programming, the programming language, its assemblers, and the commands they must follow are important, but the type of symbol used or the extension of the language is known as encoding, and In the area of programming, it can vary greatly depending on what you want to program.
Software design
It is the overall process that takes place during programming, where the objectives and functions that must be met are specified. We can say that software design is responsible for conceptualize, frame, implement, put into operation And finally, to modify complex systems, or activities that meet predetermined parameters. This is primarily used in the field of software engineering.
The most basic task a programmer must perform is software design where colors, sizes, and other details are specified so that the program can be customized to users' needs. It includes various low-level and high-level components to form the architecture.
List of the main programming software you should know
If you are interested in programming, you will need to evaluate the different programs you can use to do it.
Then We'll show you a short list of programs that will help you with programming:
Zend.com
ZendEstudio is a program that promotes PHP server technology, geared towards the development of web applicationsThis program serves as a text editor and provides a help line, allowing us to create and manage all projects up to code debugging.
(Activestate.com) Komodo IDE
Komodo is a programming software used for developing new technologies through various languages. This application focuses primarily on the development of online applications and websites, but if we specify and go We will find in depth that it can be used for different types of programming.
PSPad.com
PSPad Code Editor It's an editor that allows us to work with different projects. or documents simultaneously. Allowing us to design using templates created in different programming languages, such as PHP, HTML, Pascal, etc.
The application includes features such as a hexadecimal editor, CSS TopStyle Lite, a spell checker, and more, which are quite useful when coding.
Arachnoid.com/Arachnophilia
It's one of the most basic editors for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Java, ASP, Perl… It's a tool quite useful for new programmers, with a font bar, Forms, Frames, Graphics, Link Struct, Styles, Tables.
It also features an excellent built-in page viewer, allowing us to select up to six browsers. It lets us create macros, program shortcuts. And because it's a very explicit program, it provides code dictionaries to help us understand them.
Editplus.com
Finally, we have one of the most widely used editors by new programming professionals, especially those who develop websites. This valuable tool has several features that make the work easier.
Among its most relevant functions are hexadecimal colors, labels, and autocomplete, which saves us a lot of time when writing long programs.
