Programming
Preparation for class:
- Look over this Google Sheet on Binary Numbers. I will explain it in class.
- You should have already downloaded and started to read my highlighted Chapter 1 text below from last week. Here is the link again.. To see the un-highlighted original, click the image below.
Introduction to Computers and Programming
Normally this general computing information is the first session covered during the fall and spring semester sessions. In Summer School I thought it better to start out with setup and coding basics. Most Python books that you might find in a library or book store will skip over this material. A lot if it has a reputation for being boring. This this a a graduate level computer course, we have to cover this information, but I will try to point out the "need to know" and skim over the "nice to know" information.
Gaddis text Chapter 1
The Tony Gaddis Text, Starting with Python, has a good introductory chapter on Computers and Programming. A free pdf is available; Download here or click the image below to download it. Read it over before this session. Perhaps you will find the binary number section overwhelming. There are better ways to approach this subject, so don't get caught in a loop and get overwhelmed if it is confusing. Focus on the other material. I will present binary numbers in a more intuitive process in class.
Computing fundamentals are a separate topic from Python Fundamentals. Notice these topics in Chapter 1 of the Gaddis text are not specific to Python:
1.1 | Introduction
1.2 | Hardware and Software
1.3 | How Computers Store Data
1.4 | How a Program Works
Only topic 1.5 mentions Python in the limited context of it being an interpreted language (as opposed to being a compiled language). Topic 1.5 also covers Python running in script mode and interactive mode, but we will wait until next class to experiment with these modes because we will need to install Python on your computers first.