chapter 1 Computer Programming
class
a class is a collection of methods
compiler
a compiler reads the entire program and translates it completely before the program starts running.
decisions
Check for certain conditions and execute the appropriate code.
memory
Circuits that store data as long as the computer is turn on. Not to be confused with permanent storage devices like hard disks and flash.
computer science
The scientific and practical approach to computation and its applications.
Input
Get data from the keyboard, a file, a sensor, or some other device.
Repetition
Perform some action repeatedly, usually with some variation.
portable
The ability of a program to run on more than one kind of computer.
programming
The application of problem solving to creating executable computer programs.
hardware
The electronic and mechanical components of a computer, such as CPUs, RAM, and hard disks.
comment
The line that begins with two slashes (//) is a comment, which is a bit of English text that explains the code. When Java sees //, it ignores everything from there until the end of the line.
object code
The output of the compiler, after translating the program.
debugging
The process of finding and removing errors.
problem solving
The process of formulating a problem, finding a solution, and expressing the solution.
method
method is a named sequence of statements.
In common English, what does the word compile mean?
produce (something, especially a list, report, or book) by assembling information collected from other sources.
processor
A computer chip that performs simple instructions like basic arithmetic and logic.
algorithm
A procedure or formula for solving a problem, with or without a computer.
What is an executable? Why is that word used as a noun?
A program (noun) is executable software that runs on a computer. ... When "program" is used as verb, it means to create a software program. For example, programmers create programs by writing code that instructs the computer what to do
source code
A program in a high-level language, before being compiled.
What does it mean to say that a program is portable?
A program is said to be portable if it can run on more than one operating system or type of hardware. In other words, portable programs can be moved from machine to machine, just as portable items can be moved from place to place.
low-level language
A programming language that is designed to be easy for a computer to run. Also called "machine language" or "assembly language".
high-level language
A programming language that is designed to be easy for humans to read and write.
string
A sequence of characters; the primary data type for text.
escape sequence
A sequence of code that represents a special character when used inside a string.
program
A sequence of instructions that specifies how to perform tasks on a computer. Also known as software.
newline
A special character signifying the end of a line of text. Also known as line ending, end of line (EOL), or line break.
byte code
A special kind of object code used for Java programs. Byte code is similar to object code, but it is portable like a high-level language.
statement
A statement is a line of code that performs a basic action.
In computer jargon, what's the difference between a statement and a comment?
A statement is telling what the code has to do, and a comment tells us what it will do by having a note in the code.
print statement
A statement that causes output to be displayed on the screen.
virtual machine
An emulation of a real machine. The Java Virtual Machine enables a computer to run Java programs.
bug
An error in a program.
interpreter
An interpreter reads a high-level program and executes it, meaning that it does what the program says. It processes the pro- gram a little at a time, alternately reading lines and performing computations.
executable
Another name for object code that is ready to run on specific hardware.
output
Display data on the screen, or send data to a file or other device.