Unit 1: Programming Concepts

Vocabulary terms and definitions from Unit 1: Programming Concepts, covering software development, programming life cycles, system elements, and paradigms.

Software

A collection of codes that instructs the computer on what it will do; also known as a computer program.

Program codes

The lists of instructions that tell a computer what tasks to perform.

Coding

The process of typing program codes into a computer to instruct its behavior.

Programmers

The people who write and develop program codes.

System Programmers

People who create and maintain programs involved in the computer’s basic operating functions like operating systems, utilities, and device drivers.

Application Programmers

The people who create and maintain programs with specific functions like Point Of Sale (POS) programs or payroll generators.

Hardware

The tangible, physical components of a computer system, such as the CPU, keyboard, and LCD screen.

Planning

The first step in programming that revolves around determining requirements and setting the processes to achieve goals.

Analysis

The programming stage where precise objectives are determined to create a solution to a presented problem.

Output

The material or manipulated data generated by a program and sent back to the user.

File

A collection of information stored by name that may contain data, a program, or a document.

Input

The raw data, information, or signals (like mouse clicks) that a program requires to produce desired results.

Process

A mechanism used for converting input into output.

Design

The stage of creating a solution using modeling tools like flowcharts and algorithms.

Development

The step where the design is translated into a program by writing computer instructions (coding).

Bugs

The term used for computer errors found within a program's solution.

Debugging

The process of identifying, eliminating, or correcting computer errors.

Documentation

Materials created to describe the entire development process for the purpose of future reference.

Data

Raw values kept in a program that have not yet been subjected to any manipulation.

Operations

The manipulation of data through assignment, mathematical functions like $\times$, $/$, or modulo, and logical operators like OR ($||$), NOT ($!$), and AND (&&).

Branching

Also known as conditional execution; codes that require a comparison or condition to be met before the program executes specific instructions.

Loops

A structure that executes a set of instructions repeatedly until a specific condition evaluates to false.

Subroutines

Specific sets of instructions or methods executed by calling their names throughout a program to manipulate small pieces of data.

Programming Paradigms

The various styles or methodologies of programming used by a programmer to develop a project.

Procedural Paradigm

A programming style where codes are executed line by line in a specific sequential order without skipping statements.

Modular Paradigm

The practice of breaking a large, complex program into smaller, simpler, and more manageable code segments.

Data Abstraction

A paradigm that hides the specific attributes of data to make it appear more compound than primitive.

Object-Oriented Programming

A methodology that represents concepts as "objects" which possess specific attributes and methods.