Unit 1: Computer Anatomy, Languages, Syntax, Programming Intro

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Unit 1: Computer Anatomy, Languages, Syntax, and Programming Intro. The cards focus on terminology and definitions .

motherboard

The main circuit board that houses the CPU, RAM, ROM, and provides connections to peripheral devices and expansion cards.

CPU

Central Processing Unit; the brain of the computer that processes machine-level instructions and can request data from RAM or secondary storage.

ROM

Read-Only Memory; permanent, non-volatile memory on the motherboard loaded once and not typically changed.

RAM

Random Access Memory; volatile, temporary workspace for the computer; size affects how much data/programs can be held at once.

Secondary Storage

Non-volatile storage (e.g., hard drive, SSD, DVD, USB) that retains data when power is off.

Transistors

Electronic switches that enable computation; replaced vacuum tubes and form the basis of integrated circuits.

Hardware

The physical components of a computer (e.g., motherboard, drives, keyboard, monitor).

Software

Instructions that the computer runs, including operating systems and applications.

Peripheral device

Devices connected to the computer from outside the case (e.g., monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer).

Interpreter

A translator that converts high-level language to machine code on the fly as the program runs.

Compiler

A translator that converts an entire program into machine code before execution, often improving run-time speed.

JVM

Java Virtual Machine; runs Java bytecode and makes Java platform-independent by translating bytecode to work on the host OS.

Bytecode

Intermediate Java code produced by the compiler; executed by the JVM.

Java

A high-level, object-oriented programming language that is platform-independent at the source level.

JDK

Java Development Kit; toolkit for developing Java programs (compiler, libraries, runtime).

IDE

Integrated Development Environment; software like JCreator that helps write, compile, and debug code.

Build

In an IDE, the process of compiling the program; if successful, a bytecode file is produced.

Source Code

Human-readable program written in a language like Java; saved with a .java extension.

Compiled Code

Bytecode produced from source code, typically stored in a .class file and run by the JVM.

print

Java print method that outputs text without moving to a new line.

println

Java print method that outputs text and then moves to a new line.

Escape character

Backslash-initiated sequences in strings that modify output (e.g., tab, newline, quote).

\t (tab)

In strings, inserts a horizontal tab.

\n (newline)

In strings, starts a new line.

\ (backslash)

In strings, outputs a single backslash.

\" (quote)

In strings, outputs a literal double quote.

Concatenation

Joining two values (typically strings) with the + operator in Java.

Overloaded

When an operator or method has multiple behaviors depending on operand types (e.g., + adds numbers or concatenates strings).

Bare Bones Program

A minimal Java program skeleton: class, main method, and statements inside the method body.

class header

The beginning of a Java class declaration (e.g., public class HelloWorld).

main method

The entry point of a Java application: public static void main(String[] args).

Method

A block of code performing a specific task within a class.

Comment

Non-executed notes in code used for documentation and maintenance.

One-line comment

Comment that starts with // and continues to the end of the line.

Block comment

Comment enclosed in /* … */ that can span multiple lines.

public class HelloWorld

An example of a class header used in Java code.

System.out

A standard output stream in Java used to print to the console.

System.out.print

Prints output without advancing to a new line.

System.out.println

Prints output and advances to a new line.

ASCII

A character encoding using 1 byte per character to represent 256 symbols.

Unicode

A character encoding capable of representing over 65,000 symbols using multiple bytes (commonly 2 bytes per character in older forms).

bit

The smallest unit of data in computing, representing 0 or 1.

byte

8 bits; a basic unit of memory for characters.

Kilobyte (KB)

Approximately 1,024 bytes.

Megabyte (MB)

Approximately 1,024 kilobytes.

Gigabyte (GB)

Approximately 1,024 megabytes.

Terabyte (TB)

Approximately 1,024 gigabytes.

Abacus

Early computing tool used for arithmetic; one of the first machines in history.

Colossus

World War II cipher machine used to decrypt messages.

ENIAC

Early fully electronic computer; large and heavy; programmed internally by wiring and switches.

Jack Kilby

Engineer who contributed to the development of the integrated circuit at Texas Instruments.

Herman Hollerith

Founded IBM; invented tabulating machine for processing data.

Charles Babbage

Often called the Father of Computing; designed early computing machines and worked with Ada Lovelace.

Ada Lovelace

Pioneer of computing; collaborated with Babbage and wrote algorithms for the Analytical Engine.

Grace Hopper

Navy rear admiral who contributed to early programming languages and compilers; helped develop COBOL.

FORTRAN

Formula Translation; an early high-level language focused on scientific computation.

COBOL

Common Business Oriented Language; English-like syntax intended for business data processing.

PL/I

Programming Language 1; a bridge between COBOL and FORTRAN.

C

High-level programming language; procedural; later evolved into C++.

C++

Extension of C with object-oriented features; supports OO programming.

Java platform independence

Java programs run on the JVM, making them portable across different operating systems.

High-level language

Languages like Java, C, and Python that are closer to human language and require translation to run on a computer.

Low-level language

Languages closer to machine code, such as assembly language or machine language.

Main topics: memory, language types, syntax, programming structure

Key concepts from the notes: memory hierarchy, programming languages, and Java syntax basics.