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01-Why should you learn to write programs?
Python for Informatics - Dr. Charles Severance
25
Computer Science
Not Applicable
08/09/2015

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Term
input
Definition
Get data from the “outside world”. This might be reading data from a file, or even some kind of sensor like a microphone or GPS. In our initial programs, our input will come from the user typing data on the keyboard.
Term
output
Definition
Display the results of the program on a screen or store them in a file or perhaps write them to a device like a speaker to play music or speak text.
Term
sequential execution
Definition
Perform statements one after another in the order they are encountered in the script.
Term
conditional execution
Definition
Check for certain conditions and then execute or skip a sequence of statements.
Term
repeated execution
Definition
Perform some set of statements repeatedly, usually with some variation.
Term
reuse
Definition
Write a set of instructions once and give them a name and then reuse those instructions as needed throughout your program.
Term
bug
Definition
an error in a program
Term
central processing unit
Definition
The heart of any computer. It is what runs the software that we write; also called “CPU” or “the processor”.
Term
compile
Definition
To translate a program written in a high-level language into a low-level language all at once, in preparation for later execution.
Term
high-level language
Definition
AprogramminglanguagelikePythonthatisdesignedtobe easy for humans to read and write.
Term
interactive mode
Definition
A way of using the Python interpreter by typing commands and expressions at the prompt.
Term
interpret
Definition
To execute a program in a high-level language by translating it one line at a time.
Term
low-level language
Definition
A programming language that is designed to be easy for a computer to execute; also called “machine code” or “assembly language”.
Term
machine code
Definition
The lowest-level language for software, which is the language that is directly executed by the central processing unit (CPU).
Term
main memory
Definition
Stores programs and data. Main memory loses its information when the power is turned off.
Term
parse
Definition
To examine a program and analyze the syntactic structure.
Term
portability
Definition
A property of a program that can run on more than one kind of computer.
Term
print statement
Definition
An instruction that causes the Python interpreter to display a value on the screen.
Term
problem solving
Definition
The process of formulating a problem, finding a solution, and expressing the solution.
Term
program
Definition
A set of instructions that specifies a computation.
Term
prompt
Definition
When a program displays a message and pauses for the user to type
some input to the program.
Term
secondary memory
Definition
Stores programs and data and retains its information even when the power is turned off. Generally slower than main memory. Ex- amples of secondary memory include disk drives and flash memory in USB sticks.
Term
semantics
Definition
The meaning of a program.
Term
semantic error
Definition
An error in a program that makes it do something other than
what the programmer intended.
Term
source code
Definition
A program in a high-level language.
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