Practice: Introduction to Programming
Review Questions
True / False:
- Beginning programmers participate in all phases of the Systems Development Life Cycle.
- Coding the program in a language like C++ is the first task of planning. You plan as you code.
- Pseudocode is the only commonly used planning tool.
- Pseudocode has a strict set of rules and is the same everywhere in the computer programming industry.
- Test data is developed for testing the program once it is code into a language like C++.
- The word pseudo means false and includes the concepts of fake or imitation.
- Many programmers pick up the bad habit of not completing the planning step before starting to code the program.
- IDE means Integer Division Expression.
- Most modern compilers are really an IDE type of software, not just a compiler.
- Programming errors are extremely easy to understand and fix.
Answers:
- false
- false
- false
- false
- false
- true
- true
- false
- true
- false
Short Answer:
- List the steps of the Systems Development Life Cycle and indicate which step you are likely to work in as a new computer professional.
- List and describe what might cause the four (4) types of errors encountered in a program using a compiler and an Integrated Development Environment software product.
Activities
Pseudocode and Flowcharts
The following activities focus on software planning and testing using pseudocode and / or flowcharts.
- Search the Internet for pseudocode for making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Based on the examples you find, create pseudocode to make your own favorite sandwich or other non-prepackaged meal. Note: Because peanut butter and jelly sandwich examples are already available, you must select something else for your pseudocode. Test your pseudocode by reading the instructions out loud as someone else follows your directions.
- Search the Internet for a flowchart for making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Use a free online or downloadable flowchart tool to create a flowchart that describes how to make your favorite sandwich or other non-prepackaged meal. Note: Because peanut butter and jelly sandwich examples are already available, you must select something else for your flowchart. Test your flowchart by reading the instructions out loud while someone else follows your directions.
- Create pseudocode or a flowchart for a program that would interact with bank customers and help them determine the value of a bag or jar of coins brought in for deposit. Include counts for pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters and calculate the total value of all of the coins deposited. Test your program by having someone else follow the instructions and guide them as they use your program.
- Create pseudocode or a flowchart for a program that allows the user to enter gallons of gas and converts it to liters (metric system). NOTE: One US gallon equals 3.7854 liters. Test your program by having someone else follow the instructions and guide them as they use your program.
- A major restaurant sends a chef to purchase fruits and vegetables every day. Upon returning to the store the chef must enter two pieces of data for each item purchased: the quantity (Example: 2 cases) and the price paid (Example: $4.67). The program has a list of 20 items and after the chef enters the information, the program provides a total for the purchases for that day. Prepare test data for five (5) items: apples, oranges, bananas, lettuce, and tomatoes.
Programming Languages and Integrated Development Environments
The following activities focus on selecting a programming language and testing integrated development environments.
- Research different programming languages and select a programming language to use with this textbook. Copy the Hello World example code for your selected programming language and use one of the free cloud-based IDEs to try running the Hello World program.
- Modify the example Hello World program to instead display
Hello <name>!
, where<name>
is your name. Include comments at the top of the program and test the program to verify that it works correctly. - Research free downloadable tools for your selected programming language (interpreter/compiler, IDE, etc.). Consider downloading and installing a development environment on your system. If you set up your own development environment, test the environment using your Hello Name program written above.