Topic 1: Introduction to Programming (Part I)

Flashcards covering key foundational concepts of computer hardware, system and application software, programming language generations, language translators, and the C++ program compilation workflow from Topic 1: Introduction (Part I).

What are the three main components of the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and their functions?

The three main components are the Control Unit (CU), which fetches and decodes instructions and controls data flow; the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), which carries out all arithmetic and logical operations; and Registers, which serve special purposes like holding the current instruction or pointing to the next instruction.

What specific roles do the Instruction Register (IR) and Program Counter (PC) perform in the CPU?

The Instruction Register (IR) holds the instruction currently being executed, while the Program Counter (PC) points to the next instruction to be executed.

What is Random Access Memory (RAM), and what happens to its contents when a computer is powered off?

RAM is temporary memory composed of an ordered sequence of memory cells (each having a unique address) that holds software instructions and information for the CPU; all information stored in RAM is lost when the computer is turned off.

How does system software differ from application software?

System software runs the computer, maintains operations, and acts as an interface between hardware, user, and application software (e.g., Operating Systems like Windows, Linux, Unix, and Utility Programs like Antivirus). Application software assists users in completing personal tasks and specific information processing to increase productivity (e.g., Microsoft Office $2007$, games, spreadsheets).

What are the four naming rules and conventions for variables in computer programming?

Variable names cannot have spaces, cannot be reserved words, must consist of alphanumeric characters (A-Z, a-z, $0$-$9$) or underscores (_), and have a recommended length of $3$ to $8$ characters long.

How do 1st generation and 2nd generation programming languages represent computer instructions?

1st generation is machine language that represents data in bits of $1$'s and $0$'s. 2nd generation is assembly language, which allows users to write programs using simple, easy-to-remember words instead of numbers (e.g., LOAD, STORE, MUL, ADD, SUB).

What distinguishes 4th generation programming languages from 5th generation programming languages?

4th generation languages are very high-level and user-oriented, enabling program development with fewer commands compared to procedural languages (e.g., SQL, NOMAD). 5th generation languages use natural human language to provide a more natural connection with the computer.

What is the operational difference between a compiler and an interpreter?

A compiler translates high-level source code into machine language all at once and saves it for reuse (running faster and requiring less memory), whereas an interpreter translates high-level source code into machine language instruction by instruction.

What are the five steps required to compile and execute a C++ program?

1. Write the program using a text editor to create source code; 2. Compiler checks syntax and translates code into an object program; 3. Linker combines the object program with library programs to create executable code; 4. Loader loads the executable code into main memory; 5. Execute the program.

In computer hardware classification, what are the specific functions of telecommunication devices and connecting devices?

Telecommunication devices communicate information to people in other locations (e.g., modem, network card, cell phones), whereas connecting devices move information to and from various hardware components (e.g., cables, telephone lines, satellite).