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Introduction to Programming Concepts & Logic

COP1000Professor: Dr. Meg McManus

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Introduction

• Course Outline• Open Lab• Asthma & Allergies• Food• Course Website• Tests• Assignments

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Puzzles, anyone?

Do you Suduku?

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Why Programming?

• We encounter problems every day.• Programs are simply solutions to

problems.• Puzzles are simply a

solution to a problem• To create programs• We have to learn to think

a different way…• The way computers think.McManus

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General Problem-Solving Concepts

Lesson 1

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6 Steps in Problem Solving

1. Identify the problem– If you don’t know what the problem is,

you can’t create a solution for it.– Ex. Calculate Payroll for 10 Employees– Ex. Provide directions

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6 Steps in Problem Solving

2. Understand the problem– Clients rarely completely

understand what they want let alone how to tell you.

– Perform • Research - to form your own

knowledge base• Observations by

– Watching current activity– Reviewing past activities

• Ex. Giving instructions to someone on how to find an address.McManus

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6 Steps in Problem Solving

3. Identify alternative ways to solve the problem.– Rarely does a problem have only one

solution. – Look at

• Efficiency• Speed• Accuracy• Acceptability

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Don’t just find one solution and stop there. Rarely is it the best solution…especially

for novice programmers…

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6 Steps in Problem Solving

4. Select the best way to solve the problem from the list of alternative solutions.– Establish criteria to help when

performing evaluations on each alternative

– Include pros and cons for each solution – Select the best solution based

on the research

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6 Steps in Problem Solving

5. List instructions that enable you to solve the problem using the selected solution.

1. Create a numbered, step-by-step set of instructions

2. Instructions must be included in the knowledge base…So, what’s a knowledge base?McManus

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6 Steps in Problem Solving

6. Evaluate the solution.– Test the solution

• Are the results accurate?• Does it satisfy the needs of the client?• Is it acceptable to the client?• Does the solution solve the original

problem?

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2 Types of Problems

• Algorithmic Solutions– Steps involved in following a

set of instructions.• Ex. Calculating your checkbook

balance– The solution will be the same

each time the algorithm is followed.

– Most computers use algorithmic types of problems.

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2 Types of Problems

• Heuristic Solutions– Solutions that can’t be reached by

following a direct set of steps.• Created by using reasoning built upon

knowledge and experience…and by trial and error.

• Ex. Determining which stock is the best value

– The results may not produce the same results each time the algorithm is executed.

– Artificial intelligence deals with heuristic types of problems.

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Solutions

• The instructions that will result in the best solution. – Again, the result may

• Be more Efficient• Be Faster• Be more Understandable• Be more Maintainable• Be Reusable

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Results

• The outcome of the program– Or the completed

computer-assisted answer…• May take any form:

– Printout– Updated files– Output to monitor,

speakers, etc.

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The Program

• The set of instructions that make up the solution after they have been coded into a particular computer language.

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Although we won’t be actually writing programs, at least not in

any specific language, this is what we will be working toward

throughout this course!

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Steps in Building a Program

• Understanding the problem (What does it mean?)

• Developing an algorithm (what is the solution to the problem)

• Writing the program (by the programmer, including internal commenting)

• Documenting (external) the program (for the user/system administrator)

• Testing and debugging the program – Testing - by anyone other than the programmer– Debugging - by the programmer

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So? What are the Problems?

Humans!

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Difficulties in Problem Solving?

• Humans must– Change the way we think– Work through the problem

completely– Follow a logical sequence of

steps– Not make hasty decisions– Not make haphazard

evaluations of potential solutions

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Next?