Introduction

COMP104: Fundamentals and Methodology

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 2

Objectives

• How to solve a problem (by computer) fundamental problem solving techniques

• How to design an algorithm algorithm design

• How to write a program in C++ implementation

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 3

Course description Introduction C++ basics for Structured (or procedural) Programming

Sequential (assignments) Branching (if statement) Looping (while-do statement) Arrays and algorithms Functions (local/global, value/ref), recursion

Files Pointers and dynamic objects Linked lists

Introduction to OOP (Object Oriented Programming) Classes, objects Abstract data types

mid-term

static

dynamic

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 4

What can you do after this course?

• Program the computer in applications such as the following:• Program a simple calculator• Program simple computer games• Program a simple text editor• Program a small inventory system for a small

company• …

• You will be ready to take on part-time programming jobs during Xmas break!

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 5

Course organization

Lectures (3 h) (office 3506, quan@cse.ust.hk) Tutorials (1 h)

Not compulsary Labs (2 h)

Compulsary! See lab policy. Assignments (homework, 3 projects)

Textbook: Programming in C++: Lessons and Applications, by Timothy B. D’Orazio

No any prerequisite for comp104!

But it’s a prerequisite for most of CS courses!

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 6

A typical weekly schedule

Tu Thur Lectures Sat. Next lab posted on web Mon-Fri Lab session

(students encouraged to demo program by end of lab)

Sat. midnight Deadline for lab by CASS

• Course webpage: course.cse.ust.hk/comp104/Password_Only• Print out ‘ppt’ with ‘handouts’ option!!!

• Newsgroup, Facebook?

• Eclipse tutorial

• SVG tutorial

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 7

Grading

Labs (10%) Assignments (25%) Midterm exam (25%), 6th week,

9th October, Sat. 1-3pm Final exam (40%), Dec.

Mark weighting

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 8

Introduction to Computer Systems

• Hardware

• Software

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 9

Hardware

Memory

CPU

InputDevices

OutputDevices

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 10

• CPU - central processing unit• Makes decisions, performs computations, and delegates input/output requests

• Memory: Stores information• Main memory: RAM, e.g. 256 MB RAM• Secondary memory: hard disk, e.g. 20GB

• Input devices• Gets information from the user to the computer

• Output devices• Sends information from computer to the user

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 11

What is a program?

A computer program performs a specific task, and may interact with the user and the computer hardware.• Human work model:

• Computer work model:

A program is a set of instructions

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 12

What is a (programming) language?

• A program needs to be written in a language

• There are many programming languages• Low-level, understandable by a computer• High-level, needs a translator!

• C++ is a high level programming language

A sequence of instructions

A program

(in computer language)An algorthm

(in human language)

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 13

Machine binary language Low-level assembly High-level

An example:

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 14

• Machine binary language: unintelligible

• Low-level assembly language • Mnemonic names for machine operations• Explicit manipulation of memory addresses• Machine-dependent

• High-level language• Readable• Machine-independent

Levels of programming language

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 15

How to translate?

Examples of compilers:• Microsoft Visual C++, Eclipse, g++

A program written in high-level programming language (for example, C++ program)

A low-level (machine language) program that is understandable by a computer (for example, a PC)

COMPILER (for example, Visual C++)

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 16

• Application software• Programs designed to perform specific tasks and

are easy to use

• System software• Programs that support the execution and

development of other programs

Two major types• Operating systems• Translation systems (compilers & linkers)

What is a software?

The set of all programs or a set of programs

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 17

• Operating System (OS)• Windows (DOS, NT, XP, …), Unix (Linux, Solaris, …)

• Common application software: Microsoft Word, WordPerfect PowerPoint Netscape, IE PhotoShop, Photo-Paint Quick Time

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 18

We teach C++, Why?

• C++ is one of the most popular languages • C++ (originally C)• Basic, Pascal, Java, Perl, Cobol, Scheme, Lisp, Smalltalk, Ada, …

• C++ is portable (runs on PC, Machintosh, Unix, Mainframes …)

• C++ is widely used in industries (almost by everyone)

• C++ is not easy to learn

• The most common versions of C++:• Microsoft Visual C++• Eclipse• g++ (for Unix machines)

C

C++

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 19

Programming or Software Development

Editing (to write the program) Compiling (creates .obj file) Linking with compiled files (creates .exe file)

• Object files• Library modules

Loading and executing Testing the program

Compile

Link

Library routines

Other object files

Think

Edit

Load

Execute

Source Program

debug

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 20

Integrated Development Environments (IDE)

Editor Compiler Linker Loader Debugger Viewer

Combine all of the capabilities that a programmer would want while developing software (VC++, Eclipse)

builder

COMP104 Lecture 1 / Slide 21

Summary