CSC 102

• Computing


  The process of using computer technology to complete a task. It involves the design, development, and use of computer systems, software, and networks for the processing of data and information.
• Key areas of Computing

  • Computer Science
  • Information Technology
  • Software Engineering
  • Data Science
  • Cybersecurity
• Computer Science


  Theoretical foundations, algorithms, and computing systems
• Information Technology


  Practical applications and systems management
• Software Engineering


  Development and maintenance of software
• Data Science


  Extraction of insights and knowledge from data using statistics, machine learning, and data visualization
• Cybersecurity


  Protection of computer systems and networks from information disclosure, theft, or damage
• Generations of computers


  • First Generation (1946-1954)
  • Second Generation (1955-1965)
  • Third Generation (1968-1975)
  • Fourth Generation (1976-1980)
  • Fifth Generation (1980 - till today)
• First Generation (1946-1954)


  Vacuum tubes
• Second Generation (1955-1965)


  Transistors
• Third Generation (1968-1975)


  Integrated Circuits (IC)
• Fourth Generation (1976-1980)


  Very Large Scale Integrated Circuits (VLSI)
• Fifth Generation (1980 - till today)


  Ultra Scale Integrated Circuits (ULSI) Micro Processor (SILICON CHIP)
• Basic computer components


  • Input Unit
  • CPU (Central Processing Unit)
  • Memory Unit
  • Control Unit
  • Arithmetic and Logic Unit
  • Output Unit
• Hardware


  Physical components of a computer
• Software


  Any set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do. It is what guides the hardware and tells it how to accomplish each task.
• Types of Software


  • System Software
  • Application Software
• System Software


  Operating systems, utility programs
• Application Software


  Word processors, spreadsheets, games
• Programming Languages


  • C
  • Java
  • Python
• Computing Operations


  • Input
  • Process
  • Output
  • Store
• Data


  Collection of raw facts, figures & symbols
• Information


  Data that is processed & presented in an organized manner
• Program


  Set of instructions that enables a computer to perform a given task
• Aspects of Computational Thinking

  • Decomposition
  • Pattern Recognition
  • Abstraction
  • Generalisation
  • Algorithms
• Tools for Problem Solving


  • Programming Languages
  • Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)
  • Version Control Systems
  • Debugging Tools
  • Simulation Software
  • Data Analysis Tools
  • Optimization Tools
  • Visualization Tools
• Problem-Solving Strategies


  • Decomposition
  • Pattern Recognition
  • Abstraction
  • Algorithm Design
  • Debugging
  • Simulation and Modeling
  • Iteration
• Applications of Computing


  • Healthcare
  • Finance
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Transportation
  • Manufacturing
  • Communication
  • Science and Research
• Problem-Solving


  The sequential process of analyzing information related to a given situation and generating appropriate response options
• Key Aspects of Problem-Solving

  • Computational Thinking
  • Algorithm Design
  • Implementation
  • Evaluation and Optimization
• Systematic approach to solving problems

  1. Understand the Problem

  2. Formulate a Model

  3. Develop an Algorithm

  4. Implementation (Coding)

  5. Test (the Program)

  6. Evaluate the Solution
• Computers as a problem solving tool
• Understand the Problem


  1. What input data/information is available?

  2. What does it represent?

  3. What format is it in?

  4. Is anything missing?

  5. Do I have everything that I need?

  6. What output information am I trying to produce?

  7. What do I want the result to look like text, a picture, a graph?

  8. What am I going to have to compute?
• Formulate a Model


  Understand the processing part of the problem<|>Break down the problem into smaller problems that require some kind of simple mathematical computations to process the data
• Develop an Algorithm


  1. Represent the instructions in some way that is understandable to a person who is trying to figure out the steps involved

  2. Pseudocode

  3. Flowcharts
• Flowchart Shapes


  • Flowline (Arrowhead)
  • Terminal
  • Process
  • Decision
  • Input/Output
  • Annotation (Comment)
  • Predefined Process
  • On-page Connector
  • Off-page Connector
• Implementation (Write the Program)

  1. Writing a program is often called "writing code" or "implementing an algorithm"

  2. The code (or source code) is the program itself

  3. The code is written by using a programming language that is best suited for the job
• Algorithm (Pseudocode) to Program


  Pseudocode can be converted into actual processing code (i.e., program)
• Test the Program


  1. Run the program to evaluate the compiled instructions

  2. Check if the output is correct

  3. Fix any bugs (problems/errors with the program that cause it to stop working or produce incorrect or undesirable results)

  4. Use a test suite (many test cases) to find bugs effectively

  5. Have a third-party test the program

  6. The process of finding and fixing errors in your code is called debugging