Lesson 2 Introduction to Programming for Games

computer science

The study of the design and function of computers (machines that can receive, process, store, and display information), including both hardware and software

logic error

causes the program to produce unexpected results; can be difficult to identify because the program will run, but does not behave as expected.

pseudocode

details of an algorithm's steps written in plain text using short phrases; used to review the project outline before writing in programming code

flowchart

graphical diagrams that show the steps or decision process contained in an algorithm; includes different symbols to represent the purpose or process of a particular step

syntax error

is found by the compiler of the computer because it does not understand or recognize the code as typed; will not allow the program to run.

runtime error

occurs when the program is running and causes to program to stop; generally means a piece of code cannot be loaded or contains an error

programmer

person who writes instructions as a series of statements using the code and syntax of a programming language

sequential

programming structure that directs the computer to follow a list of instructions in order, one by one, from top to bottom

selection

programming structure that directs the computer to make a choice between alternative conditions; this includes the if/else statement

repetition

programming structure that directs the computer to repeat a set of instructions until some condition is met; while, do/while and for statements; also referred to as iteration and looping

syntax

rules of the structure, symbols, and words that make up a programming language

algorithm

set of step-by-step instructions that must be executed in order to solve a problem or perform a task.

logic statement

specific code in which the flow of the program is controlled by a combination of IF, THEN/ELSE

debug

to locate and correct errors in a computer program through testing