This document provides an overview of programming methodology and concepts. It begins with an introduction to computer architecture, including the hardware components of a computer and computer software. It describes the different levels of programming languages from machine language to high-level languages. The document also discusses application and system software. It concludes with an introduction to basic C++ programming.

1. Programming Methodology
By:
Anh Duong

3. Programming Methodology
By:
Anh Duong
Online:
< http://cnx.org/content/col10450/1.1/ >
C O N N E X I O N S
Rice University, Houston, Texas

4. This selection and arrangement of content as a collection is copyrighted by Anh Duong. It is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/).
Collection structure revised: August 22, 2007
PDF generated: October 26, 2012
For copyright and attribution information for the modules contained in this collection, see p. 5.

5. Table of Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 PC Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2 Basic C++
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Attributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

6. iv
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7. Chapter 1
Introduction
1.1 PC Architecture
1.1.1 computer architecture1
1.1.1.1 Computer Hardware
A computer may be divided into six logical units.
Input Unit
Obtain information from input devices: keyboards and mouse devices.
Place the information at the disposal of the other units to be processed.
Output Unit
Take information that has been processed.
Place it on output devices: displayed on screens, printed on paper.
Memory Unit
RAM (random access memory) is volatile, stores program and data.
ROM (read only memory) is non-volatile, contains fundamental instructions.
Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)
Perform all the arithmetic and logic operations: addition, subtraction, comparison, etc..
CPU
Tell the input unit when information should be read into the memory unit.
Tell the ALU when information from the memory should be used in calculations.
Tell the output unit when to send information from the memory unit to certain output devices.
Secondary Storage.
Permanent storage areas for programs and data: magnetic tapes, magnetic hard disks, oppy disk, CD
ROM
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1

8. 2 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION
1.1.1.2 Computer Software
A computer program: set of instructions used to operate a computer to produce a specic result.
Computer programming: writing computer programs.
Programming languages: languages used to create computer programs.
Machine Languages
Example: 0101010 000000000001 000000000010
The lowest level of computer languages.
Programs consist of entirely of 1s and 0s.
Programs can control directly to the computer's hardware.
Machine language instructions consist of two parts:
Instruction part (opcode) is the leftmost group of bits and tells the computer the operation to be
performed.
Address part species the memory address of the data to be used in the instruction.
Assembly Languages
Example:
LOAD BASEPAY
ADD OVERPAY
STORE GROSSPAY
Perform the same tasks as machine languages, but use symbolic names for opcodes and operands.
An assembly language program must be translated into a machine language program.
Translation program (assembler)Machine languageprogramAssembly languageprogram
Machine languages and assembly languages are called low-level languages since they are closest to
computer hardware.
High-level Programming Languages
Create computer programs using instructions that much easier to understand: English-like included
with mathematical notations.
Programs written in high-level languages must be translated into a low level language using a program
called a compiler.
Each line in a high-level language program is called a statement.
Ex: Result = (First + Second)*Third.
Application and System Software
Application software: perform particular tasks required by the users.
System software: must be available to any computer system to operate. The most important system
software is the operating system (MS-DOS, UNIX, MS WINDOWS, MS WINDOWS NT)
Multitasking systems: operating systems allow user to run multiple programs.
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9. Chapter 2
Basic C++
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3

10. 4 INDEX
Index of Keywords and Terms
Keywords are listed by the section with that keyword (page numbers are in parentheses). Keywords
do not necessarily appear in the text of the page. They are merely associated with that section. Ex.
apples, Ÿ 1.1 (1) Terms are referenced by the page they appear on. Ex. apples, 1
A architecture, Ÿ 1.1.1(1) C computer, Ÿ 1.1.1(1)
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11. ATTRIBUTIONS 5
Attributions
Collection: Programming Methodology
Edited by: Anh Duong
URL: http://cnx.org/content/col10450/1.1/
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Module: computer architecture
By: Anh Duong
URL: http://cnx.org/content/m15039/1.1/
Pages: 1-2
Copyright: Anh Duong
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Available for free at Connexions http://cnx.org/content/col10450/1.1

12. Programming Methodology
This course provides students with methodology in programming, using C++ in almost examples.
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