What is programming?
If you want to take your first steps in the world of programming and how to learn it, then you are in the right place, this guide is not like other online sources that talk about what programming is.
The difference in this guide is that you will find the following in it:
A simplified explanation with practical examples of the meaning of programming.
You will know how the different programming languages originated. And why are there so many programming languages?
You will know what the word “program” means in a simple and fun way.
You will fully understand the meaning of some programming terms such as
[ِ Algorithms, Syntax] and others with practical examples.
You will learn about the most important programming specializations required in the labor market.
You will learn the meaning of programming style, and the most popular different programming techniques.
This is not all, the most important thing in this guide is that I will put many comprehensive and practical guides for you to learn programming from the best resources on the Internet.
This guide that you are reading now is just part of a large series that we have started preparing recently about the field of computer science in all its specializations in order to help young people provide all the information they need in a simple and practical way so that they enter the labor market without fear.
That is why I hope that you read every word in this guide because you will find a lot of useful information and links that I put for you between the lines … OK? Good, let’s get started!
What is programming?
Programming is the process of building and designing computer programs that any computer can understand, in order to carry out specific tasks — such as mathematical operations, drawing, or preserving and storing information.
Programming is one of the most important fields of computer science because it is included in almost all computer tasks, regardless of the industry or application. The missile industry depends on programming, and for this let us get to know more about computers and the role of programming in dealing with it.
A computer is a very stupid tool. Anyone who deals with it must tell her everything that is required of her, step by step until she gives him what is required of her … Let me give you an example.
Imagine with me that you are an expert in making coffee and you want to explain to one of your friends how to make an excellent cup of coffee … Now imagine with me that this friend not only does not know anything about coffee but that he is blind and does not see anything.
Do you imagine the accuracy and size of the steps that you must explain and describe to your friend in order for him to implement the required, for example, you will tell him while you are standing in the kitchen:
- Move 4 steps forward.
- Raise your right hand 50 cm up until you find the coffee.
- Carry a coffee bag.
- Lower with your right hand 15 cm until it hits the table.
- Place the coffee bag on the table.
- Move 3 steps left.
- Raise your right hand up to 30 cm.
- In front of your hand, you will find the coffee pot we use to make coffee.
- Carry the coffee pot in your hands.
- Move 3 steps to the right.
- Raise your left hand 25 cm to hit the faucet.
- Move your left hand 8 cm to the right until you find the tap switch.
And another long, neat, and delicate step that you should not make mistakes in explaining until your friend makes this coffee … this is programming.
The previous steps are similar to the different programs that a computer deals with … the program is nothing but specific, ordered steps that it can understand and deal with.
A computer is a tool that does not know, see, or hear anything but electricity … Is the electricity on or off? In other words, the language of binary numbers (0 and 1).
Any part or piece of any computer such as the
- processor,
- RAM,
- the monitor,
- mouse,
and many others, it is nothing but a set of electrical circuits that communicate with each other according to specific instructions or as programs are called … there Thousands of programs that the computer relies on to carry out any task required of it.
I want you to imagine with me how many programs or steps that your computer or phone has taken so that you read these lines now … This is the world of programming, my friend.
How to communicate with a computer
Programming is just a way to communicate with a computer, and in order to know what programming is more deeply, you have to know how that communication is done.
Computers, the first thing that started, were mechanical machines that used gears and ingenious engineering designs to implement some mathematical tasks to save effort, such as (knowing to time — performing large mathematical operations such as collecting a population census — storing information).
Communication with this type of device was through some mechanical movements (valve opening — moving indicator) … You can watch the following video to find out what I am talking about specifically.
After the discovery of electricity, scientists and engineers used it to develop various mechanical devices. Electricity is easier to control and moves much faster than gears and mechanical transmissions.
At that time, all you needed to do to communicate with electrical devices was to close some switches (Off or 0 in binary numbers) or open some switches (On or 1 in binary digits language) in order to control the movement of current in the various electrical circuits.
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