Learn: Computer Hardware Evolution & C++ Programming Fundamentals | Quizlet

Vacuum Tubes

Early, bulky, unreliable computers (e.g., ENIAC).

Transistors

Smaller, faster, and more reliable than tubes.

Integrated Circuits (ICs)

Miniature transistors packed onto silicon chips.

VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration)

Thousands, then millions, of components on a single chip.

Parallelization

Multiple processors working simultaneously.

ENIAC

One of the earliest general-purpose electronic computers, using vacuum tubes.

CPU & Multi-Core Processor

The 'brain' of the computer that executes instructions; multi-core processors have multiple CPU cores on a single chip.

3 Instruction Types

1) Input, 2) Process, 3) Output.

Primary Memory (RAM)

Fast, temporary storage used by the CPU while running programs.

Secondary Storage

Permanent/long-term storage (e.g., hard disks, SSDs, thumb drives, CD-ROMs, DVDs).

Volatile vs. Non-Volatile

Volatile memory (RAM) loses data when power turns off; non-volatile memory (hard drives) keeps data without power.

I/O Devices

Input (keyboard, mouse, scanners) and Output (monitors, printers).

Computer & Programming

A programmable machine that follows instructions; programming is the act of writing those instructions.

Hardware vs. Software

Hardware is the physical equipment; software is the set of instructions/programs.

Machine Language

Binary code directly executed by the CPU.

High-Level Language

Human-readable code (like C++) that must be translated.

Data Sizing

Bit (0 or 1), Byte (8 bits), KB, MB, GB, TB.

Character Encodings

ASCII (older, standard English character set) vs. Unicode (supports global languages and symbols).

Moore's Law

The observation that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles roughly every two years, increasing computing power.

Algorithm & Flowchart

An algorithm is a step-by-step problem-solving procedure; a flowchart is its visual representation.

Base 2 (Binary)

Uses only 0 and 1. Computers use this because electrical states are easily represented as on/off.

Base 10 (Decimal)

Our standard counting system using digits 0 through 9.

Compilation

Translating source code into an object file (.obj).

Linking

Combining object files and libraries to create an executable (.exe).

Syntax Error

Grammar or spelling mistakes in the code; prevents the program from compiling (e.g., missing semicolon ;).

Logic Error

The code compiles and runs, but produces incorrect results due to a flawed algorithm or formula.