What is Programming?

Some common metaphors for software

Recipes
Knitting instructions
Assembly instructions (e.g., for Lego set, piece of furniture, etc.)

All of these are:

detailed instructions,
written in specialized languages,
that are supposed to be followed exactly and in order,
so that someone who knows nothing about the task can do it anyway.

Note: Programming languages are very picky about structure, terminology, and syntax!

⇓

Another metaphor — Writing

There are different languages
There are different rhetorical styles (poems, novels, essays, ads)
Each rhetorical style has appropriate structures

Long Essay Java

Sections Classes

Paragraphs Methods (functions in many languages)

Sentences Statements

Note: There's a special method for the starting point of a program, called main.

Long Essay	Java
Sections	Classes
Paragraphs	Methods (functions in many languages)
Sentences	Statements

⇓

To write well, you need to keep your audience in mind.
Programs have two audiences: humans and the computer.

Instructors may have specific requirements for assignments

Long Essay		Program
Name Class Date Title Abstract Section 1 Paragraphs... Section 2 Paragraphs...		/** Class documentation comments, including * Program name and description, * Name, Date, etc. / public class ClassName { /* Comments describing method */ public returnType methodName () { // Statements... } }

Long Essay

Program

Name
Class
Date

Title
Abstract
Section 1
Paragraphs...
Section 2
Paragraphs...

/** Class documentation comments, including
 *  Program name and description,
 *  Name, Date, etc.
 */
public class ClassName
{
    /** Comments describing method */
    public returnType methodName ()
    {
         // Statements...
    }
}

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Alyce Brady, Kalamazoo College