Learn C++ Chapter 0/1

What is software?

Programs on a system designed to run on hardware.

What is a platform?

A set of hardware + software that provides an environment to run programs.

What does portable mean?

A program that can run on multiple platforms easily.

What is porting?

Modifying a program to run on another platform.

What language do CPUs understand?

Machine language (binary instructions).

What is an instruction set?

All machine instructions a CPU can execute.

What is a bit?

A single binary digit (0 or 1).

What is assembly language?

Human-readable version of machine language.

What does an assembler do?

Converts assembly into machine code.

Why aren’t CPU families compatible?

They use different instruction sets.

What is ISA?

Instruction Set Architecture (CPU family design).

What is C++’s design philosophy?

“Trust the programmer” (freedom + risk).

What are low-level languages?

Machine and assembly languages with minimal abstraction.

Why are low-level languages not portable?

They depend on specific hardware (ISA).

Main downside of low-level languages?

Hard to write, understand, and maintain.

Main advantage of low-level languages?

Very fast and efficient.

Why were high-level languages created?

To fix low-level language issues.

What is a high-level language?

A language with high abstraction from hardware.

Do high-level languages run directly?

No, they must be compiled or interpreted.

What is a compiler?

Translates source code into machine code.

What is an interpreter?

Executes code directly without compiling.

Compiler vs interpreter difference?

Compiler = faster runtime, Interpreter = more flexible.

What is cross-platform software?

Software that runs on multiple platforms.

Steps to build a program?

Define → Design → Code → Compile → Link → Test → Debug.

What is a bug?

An error in a program.

What is debugging?

Finding and fixing bugs.

What is source code?

Human-written program instructions.

What is a code editor?

A text editor for programming.

Key editor features?

Line numbers, syntax highlighting, monospace font.

What does the compiler do?

Checks code + converts it to object files.

What is an object file?

Intermediate compiled file (.obj).

What does the linker do?

Combines object files into an executable.

What happens if linking fails?

A linker error is generated.

What is the C++ Standard Library?

Built-in reusable functionality.

Example of standard library use?

Input/output (iostream).

What is a third-party library?

External reusable code from others.

What is building?

Full process of compiling + linking.

What is testing?

Checking if program works correctly.

What is an IDE?

Software with editor, compiler, linker, debugger.

What is a project?

Collection of files to build one program.

What is a solution/workspace?

Container for multiple projects.

What is a console application?

Text-based program (no GUI).

What does Build do?

Compiles changed files and links.

What does Clean do?

Deletes compiled files.

What does Rebuild do?

Clean + Build.

What does Run do?

Executes program.

What is Debug mode?

Slower, easier to debug.

What is Release mode?

Faster, optimized for performance.

What is an error?

Stops compilation.

What is a warning?

Doesn’t stop compilation.

What is a statement?

Instruction that performs an action.

What is a function?

A group of statements executed together.

What is an identifier?

Name of a function, variable, etc.

What is a character?

Single symbol (letter, number, etc.).

What is text (string)?

Sequence of characters.

What is a control character?

Special non-visible character (e.g., tab).

What is syntax?

Rules for writing valid code.

What is a syntax error?

Violation of language rules.

What is a comment?

Note ignored by compiler.

Single-line comment syntax?

//

Multi-line comment syntax?

/* */

What should comments explain at high level?

What code does.

What should comments explain inside code?

How it works.

What should statement comments explain?

Why something is done.

What is data?

Information processed by a computer.

What is a value?

A single piece of data.

What is a literal?

Value written directly in code.

What is RAM?

Memory used while program runs.

What is an object?

Storage location for a value.

What is a variable?

Named object.

What is a definition?

Declaring a variable.

What is allocation?

Reserving memory.

What is a data type?

Type of value stored.

What is assignment?

Giving a value using =.

What is initialization?

Giving a value at creation.

Default initialization?

No value assigned (garbage value).

Copy initialization?

int a = 5;

Direct initialization?

int a(5);

Direct-list initialization?

int a{5};

Value initialization?

int a{}.