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Topics
• Introduction
• Hardware and Software
CN101 • How Computers Store Data
• How a Program Works
Lecture 1
• Using Python
Introduction to Computers and
Programming

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Introduction Hardware and Software

• Computers can be programmed • Hardware: The physical devices that make up a
• Designed to do any job that a program tells them to computer
• Program: set of instructions that a computer follows to • Computer is a system composed of several components that
all work together
perform a task
• Commonly referred to as Software • Typical major components:
• Central processing unit
• Programmer: person who can design, create, and test
• Main memory
computer programs
• Secondary storage devices
• Also known as software developer
• Input and output devices

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The CPU
• Central processing unit (CPU): the part of the computer
that actually runs programs
• Most important component
• Without it, cannot run software
• Used to be a huge device
• Microprocessors: CPUs located on small chips
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Main Memory Secondary Storage Devices

• Main memory: where computer stores a program while • Secondary storage: can hold data for long periods of
program is running, and data used by the program time
• Known as Random Access Memory or RAM • Programs normally stored here and loaded to main memory
when needed
• CPU is able to quickly access data in RAM
• Volatile memory used for temporary storage while program is • Types of secondary memory
running • Disk drive: magnetically encodes data onto a spinning circular
• Contents are erased when computer is off disk
• Solid state drive: faster than disk drive, no moving parts,
stores data in solid state memory
• Flash memory: portable, no physical disk
• Optical devices: data encoded optically

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Input Devices Output Devices

• Input: data the computer collects from people and • Output: data produced by the computer for other
other devices people or devices
• Input device: component that collects the data • Can be text, image, audio, or bit stream
• Examples: keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, scanner, camera • Output device: formats and presents output
• Disk drives can be considered input devices because they load • Examples: video display, printer
programs into the main memory • Disk drives and USB drives can be considered output devices
because data is sent to them to be saved

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Software Software (cont’d.)

• Everything the computer does is controlled by software • System software: programs that control and manage
• General categories: basic operations of a computer
• Application software • Operating system: controls operations of hardware
• System software components
• Application software: programs that make computer • Utility Program: performs specific task to enhance computer
useful for every day tasks operation or safeguard data
• Examples: word processing, email, games, and Web browsers • Software development tools: used to create, modify, and test
software programs
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How Computers Store Data Storing Numbers

• All data in a computer is stored in sequences of 0s and • Bit represents two values, 0 and 1
1s • Computers use binary numbering system
• Byte: just enough memory to store letter or small • Position of digit j is assigned the value 2j-1
number • To determine value of binary number sum position values of
• Divided into eight bits the 1s
• Bit: electrical component that can hold positive or negative • Byte size limits are 0 and 255
charge, like on/off switch • 0 = all bits off; 255 = all bits on
• The on/off pattern of bits in a byte represents data stored in • To store larger number, use several bytes
the byte

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Example Storing Characters

• Data stored in computer must be stored as binary
number
• Characters are converted to numeric code, numeric
code stored in memory
• Most important coding scheme is ASCII
• ASCII is limited: defines codes for only 128 characters
• Unicode coding scheme becoming standard
• Compatible with ASCII
• Can represent characters for other languages

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Example Advanced Number Storage

• To store negative numbers and real numbers,
computers use binary numbering and encoding
schemes
• Negative numbers encoded using two’s complement
• Real numbers encoded using floating-point notation
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Other Types of Data How a Program Works

• Digital: describes any device that stores data as binary • CPU designed to perform simple operations on pieces of
numbers data
• Digital images are composed of pixels • Examples: reading data, adding, subtracting, multiplying, and
dividing numbers
• To store images, each pixel is converted to a binary number
representing the pixel’s color • Understands instructions written in machine language and
included in its instruction set
• Digital music is composed of sections called samples • Each brand of CPU has its own instruction set
• To store music, each sample is converted to a binary number
• To carry out meaningful calculation, CPU must perform
many operations

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How a Program Works (cont’d.) How a Program Works (cont’d.)

• Program must be copied from secondary memory to
RAM each time CPU executes it
• CPU executes program in cycle:
• Fetch: read the next instruction from memory into CPU
• Decode: CPU decodes fetched instruction to determine which
operation to perform
• Execute: perform the operation

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From Machine Language to
High-Level Languages
Assembly Language
• Impractical for people to write in machine language • Low-level language: close in nature to machine language
• Assembly language: uses short words (mnemonics) for • Example: assembly language
instructions instead of binary numbers • High-Level language: allows simple creation of powerful
• Easier for programmers to work with and complex programs
• Assembler: translates assembly language to machine • No need to know how CPU works or write large number of
instructions
language for execution by CPU
• More intuitive to understand
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Key Words, Operators, and Syntax:
Python Key words
an Overview
• Key words: predefined words used to write program in
high-level language
• Each key word has specific meaning
• Operators: perform operations on data
• Example: math operators to perform arithmetic
• Syntax: set of rules to be followed when writing
program
• Statement: individual instruction used in high-level
language

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Compilers and Interpreters Compilers and Interpreters (cont’d.)

• Programs written in high-level languages must be • Interpreter: translates and executes instructions in high-
translated into machine language to be executed level language program
• Compiler: translates high-level language program into • Used by Python language
separate machine language program • Interprets one instruction at a time
• Machine language program can be executed at any time • No separate machine language program
• Source code: statements written by programmer
• Syntax error: prevents code from being translated

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Compilers and Interpreters (cont’d.) Using Python

• Python must be installed and configured prior to use
• One of the items installed is the Python interpreter
• Python interpreter can be used in two modes:
• Interactive mode: enter statements on keyboard
• Script mode: save statements in Python script
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Writing Python Programs and
Interactive Mode
Running Them in Script Mode
• When you start Python in interactive mode, you will see • Statements entered in interactive mode are not saved
a prompt as a program
• Indicates the interpreter is waiting for a Python statement to • To have a program use script mode
be typed
• Save a set of Python statements in a file
• Prompt reappears after previous statement is executed
• The filename should have the .py extension
• Error message displayed If you incorrectly type a statement
• To run the file, or script, press F5 button
• Good way to learn new parts of Python

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The IDLE Programming Environment Summary

• IDLE (Integrated Development Program): single program • This chapter covered:
that provides tools to write, execute and test a program • Main hardware components of the computer
• Automatically installed when Python language is installed • Types of software
• Runs in interactive mode • How data is stored in a computer
• Has built-in text editor with features designed to help write • Basic CPU operations and machine language
Python programs • Fetch-decode-execute cycle
• Complex languages and their translation to machine code
• Installing Python and the Python interpreter modes