Following an introduction to the architecture of computer systems and the representation of information, the course provides an introduction to programming using the Python language. It explains the fundamental principles of programming languages, including loops, recursion, and imperative, functional, and object-oriented programming concepts. Several concrete projects are implemented in Python, such as retrieving and processing data from the Internet, working with various sensors, and controlling external devices using the Raspberry Pi. A separate chapter is devoted to object-oriented programming and, in particular, the Java programming language. This language and its infrastructure are especially well-suited for the professional development of large-scale projects. The latest concepts in Java (lambdas, streams, and functional programming) are also clearly explained. The final chapter covers classic algorithms and data structures: search and sorting algorithms, lists, trees, graphs, maps, and various other data types for efficiently storing, retrieving, and transforming data. These are presented along with their advantages and disadvantages and illustrated using Java programs.
The second volume is devoted to technical topics—in particular, computer architecture, operating systems, computer networks, and specifically the Internet. The third and final volume of the Computer Science book series is devoted to theoretical computer science.
The book is intended for all beginners who wish to seriously engage with computer science, whether for self-study or as a companion to lectures. The subsequent volumes of this series explore the topics of computer architecture, operating systems, computer networks, the Internet, compiler design, and theoretical computer science in greater depth.
Prof. Dr. Heinz-Peter Gumm
is a professor of theoretical computer science in Marburg. After completing his studies in Darmstadt and Winnipeg (Canada) from 1970 to 1975 and earning his habilitation in 1981, he held professorships in Hawaii, California, and New York. His research areas include formal methods, general algebras, and coalgebras.
Prof. Dr. Manfred Sommer
is Professor Emeritus of Applied Computer Science in Marburg. After completing his studies in Göttingen and Munich from 1964 to 1969, he served as an assistant at Germany's first computer science institute at the Technical University of Munich. This was followed by ten years at Siemens in Munich, and from 1984 to 2014 he was a professor of computer science in Marburg.