Coding for Beginners in easy steps

Mike McGrath

• Publisher: In Easy Steps Limited
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9781840786422
• eBook ISBN: 9781840786866
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Programming Languages
• Index: Computer Science

Coding for Beginners in easy steps has an easy-to-follow style that will appeal to anyone, of any age, who wants to begin coding computer programs. You need have no previous knowledge of any computer programming language so it's ideal for the newcomer, including youngsters needing to learn programming basics for the school curriculum.The book instructs you how to write code to create your own computer programs. It contains separate chapters demonstrating how to store information in data structures, how to control program flow using control structures, and how to create re-usable blocks of code in program functions. There are complete step-by-step example programs that demonstrate each aspect of coding, together with screenshots that illustrate the actual output when each program has been executed. Coding for Beginners in easy steps begins by explaining how to easily create a programming environment on your own computer, so you can quickly begin to create your own working programs by copying the book's examples. The examples throughout this book feature the popular Python programming language but additionally the final chapter demonstrates a comparison example in the C, C++, and Java programming languages to give you a rounded view of computer coding.

1

Getting started

Welcome to the exciting, fun world of computer coding! This chapter describes how to create your own programming environment and demonstrates how to code your very first program.

Programming code

Setting up

Exploring IDLE

Getting help

Saving programs

Storing values

Adding comments

Naming rules

Summary

Programming code

A computer is merely a machine that can process a set of simple instructions very quickly. The set of instructions it processes is known as a “program”, and the instructions are known as “code”.

People who write computer programs are known as “programmers” or “coders”. Their programs have enabled computers to become useful in almost every area of modern life:

•In the hand – computers are found in cellphone devices for tasks such as communication via voice, text, and social media

•In the home – computers are found in household devices such as TV sets, gaming consoles, and washing machines

•In the office – computers are found in desktop devices for tasks such as word processing, payroll, and graphic design

•In the store – computers are found in retail devices such as automatic teller machines (ATMs) and bar code scanners

•In the car – computers are found in control devices for tasks such as engine management, anti-lock braking and security

•In the sky – computers are found in airplanes for piloting and in air traffic control centers for safe navigation

These are, in fact, just a few examples of how computers affect our lives today. Yet, computers are really dumb! They can only count from zero to one, and cannot think for themselves.

A computer is a collection of electronic components – collectively known as “hardware”. To make the computer function it must be given a set of program instructions – known as “software”.

It is important that each computer program provides clear step-by-step instructions that the computer can execute without errors. The coder must therefore break down the task required of the computer into simple unambiguous steps. For example, a program to move a mobile robot from indoors to outdoors must include instructions to have the robot locate a doorway and navigate around any obstacles. So the coder must always consider what possible unexpected difficulties a program may encounter.

Program instructions must be presented to the computer in a language it can understand. At the most basic level the computer can understand “machine code”, which moves items around in its memory to perform tasks. This type of obscure low-level code is incredibly tedious as it requires many lines of instruction ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• 1 Getting started
• 2 Saving data
• 3 Performing operations
• 4 Making lists
• 5 Controlling blocks
• 6 Creating functions
• 7 Sorting algorithms
• 8 Importing libraries
• 9 Managing text
• 10 Programming objects
• 11 Building interfaces
• 12 Developing apps
• 13 Transferring skills
• Back Cover