Algorithms and Problem Solving
CSBP 119
Chapter 1
An Overview of Computers and Programming Languages
CIT, UAE University Fall 2020
In this chapter you will learn about:
Different types of computers and the history
of computing machines
Objectives The hardware components of a computer
The evolution of programming languages
Low and high-level programming languages
Compilers
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History of
Computers
An Overview
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The basic commands a computer performs:
Elements Input - The data provided to the computer
Output - Results of the processing that is
of a provided by the computer
Storage
Computer Processing – arithmetic and logical
System operations.
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Hardware /
CPU
Control Unit (CU)
Arithmetic Logic Unit
(ALU)
Program Counter (PC)
Instruction Register (IR)
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Ordered sequence of
cells (memory cells)
which are uniquely
addressed.
Hardware / Programs loaded into
Main main memory before
execution
Memory Volatile state i.e., when
power is turned off,
everything in main
memory is lost
Main Memory with 100 storage cells
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7 Hardware / Secondary Storage
Provides permanent storage for information
Examples of secondary storage:
Hard Disks
Floppy Disks
Flash memory
CDs, DVDs
Tapes
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Hardware / IO Devices
Input Devices
Feed data and programs into computers
Examples:
Keyboard
Mouse
Track Ball
Output Devices
Used by the computer to display results
Examples:
Printer
Monitor
So, what would a touchscreen interface of a smartphone be? Input or Output device?
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9 Software
A computer needs to be given instructions or
commands to perform tasks
A set of instructions is called a program
A set of programs written to perform a specific
task is called a Software
The two types of software are:
System software: controls the computer, ex:
Microsoft Windows
Application software: Perform a specific user-
defined task, ex: Microsoft Word
What language does a computer understand?
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Machine Language
Basic language of a computer
A sequence of 0s and 1s (off and on)
Programming Every computer understands its own
machine language
Languages
The 0 or 1 is called a Bit or Binary Digit
A Byte is a sequence of 8 bits
10101001
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Binary Units
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12 Evolution of Programming Languages
Machine Language
Early computers were programmed in
machine language (only using zero’s and
one’s)
Assembly Language
Programming is made easier.
An instruction is an easy-to-remember form
called a mnemonic
Assembler: a software that translates
assembly language instructions into machine
language
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What programmer easily What Computer understands.
understands.
Assembly program Machine code
Assembler
Evolution of Programming Languages
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14 Evolution of Programming Languages
High-Level Languages
Makes programming easier for users.
Closer to spoken language (English)
Examples
Java, Basic, Quick Basic, Visual Basic,
FORTRAN, COBOL, C/C++, etc.
Well-known language constructs
If-then-else
do-while
for
integer, String, char, etc.
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15 Evolution of Programming Languages
High-level programs needs to be translated into machine code
Compiler: a program that translates a program written in
a high-level language into the equivalent machine
language
A compiler checks the syntax of all statements in the
program against the language rules.
In case there is a mistake, the compilation fails.
Java is a High-level programming language
Stop
Bugs/errors/mistakes
High level programing Machine code
language Compiler/Interpreter
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Java Programing Language Java Virtual Machine (JVM): Java
hypothetical computer
developed to make Java Programming
Java is a machine-independent language
programs machine independent.
Language
Java program is written using the Java
syntax
•Syntax is the grammar for the
instructions/commands.
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17 Java Programming Language
To run a Java program
① Java instructions need to be written: Java Code/Java Source
Program.
② The instructions must be translated/compiled into an
intermediate language called bytecode
If there is an error then the Java Code must be rewritten
③ Then the bytecode is loaded and interpreted into machine
language
④ The machine language is executed by the CPU and then the
result is displayed
Java Machine
program Bytecode Code
Java compiler Java Interpreter
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Source program:
written in a high-level
language
Loader: transfers the
compiled code
Run a Java (bytecode) into main
memory
Program
Interpreter: reads
and translates each
bytecode instruction
into machine
language and then
executes it
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Problem Solving
Problem-Analysis-Coding-Execution Cycle
Algorithm: a step-by-step problem-solving
process in which a solution is arrived at, in a
finite amount of time.
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1 2 3
Analyze the problem Implement the Maintain the program
• Outline solution algorithm in a • Use and modify if the
requirements and design an programming language problem domain or
algorithm (Java) and verify if the requirement changes
algorithm works
Problem Solving
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