CSCI 1520

Computer Principles
and C++ Programming

Introduction

Spring, 2015
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Outline
1. Introduction to programming
2. Overview of C++

What is a Computer?
A computer is a machine that manipulates data
according to a list of instructions.
E.g.: Desktop PC, smartphone, tablet, Xbox,
What do computers have in common?

Computer Organization
Input Unit
John von Neumann

CPU
Arithmetic
& Logic
Unit

Memory Unit

Storage
Unit

Control
Unit

Output Unit
Flow of data

Von Neumann Architecture

Input Unit

Computer Organization

CPU
Arithmetic
& Logic
Unit

Memory Unit

Storage
Unit

Control
Unit

1. Input unit

Output Unit

Obtains information from input devices

Keyboard, mouse, microphone, touch panel, networks,

2. Output unit
Takes information processed by computer
Places information on output devices

Monitor, printer, speaker, networks,

Information used to control other devices

Input Unit

Computer Organization

CPU
Arithmetic
& Logic
Unit

Memory Unit

Storage
Unit

Control
Unit
Output Unit

3. Central processing unit (CPU)

CU (Control Units)

Supervises and coordinates other sections of computer

Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU)

Performs arithmetic calculations and logic decisions

Input Unit

Computer Organization

CPU
Arithmetic
& Logic
Unit

Memory Unit

Storage
Unit

Control
Unit

4. Memory unit

Rapid access, relatively low capacity

warehouse section

Retains information from input unit

Immediately available for processing

Retains processed information

Output Unit

Until placed on output devices

Refers to the Random Access Memory (RAM)

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Input Unit

Computer Organization

CPU
Arithmetic
& Logic
Unit

Memory Unit

Storage
Unit

Control
Unit

5. Secondary storage unit

Long-term, high-capacity warehouse section

Storage

Data and programs that are not immediately needed

Secondary storage devices

Output Unit

Disks and Optical discs

Longer to access than primary memory

Less expensive per unit than primary memory

What is programming?
A programming language is an artificial
language designed to express computer
instructions
High-level programming languages More Englishlike, easier to use
E.g.: BASIC, Pascal, C, C++, Java, JavaScript, PHP, Python,

To execute a program written in a high-level

programming language, we need a compiler or
an interpreter.
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What is programming?
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10101111
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00101101
10101111
01110101
00111101
11011110
10101100
11100000
10101111

Compiler
or
Interpreter

A = 1 + 2;
print A;

Compiler a program that translates instructions written in a

programming language into another language (usually a
machine language). The resulting program can then be
executed by the computer directly.
Interpreter a program that directly executes instructions
written in a programming language
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Fundamentals of Programming
Understand the basic concepts and principles of
programming
Understand (and sometimes memorize) the
syntax of a programming language
Express your idea and solution into equivalent
instructions
Know what APIs (Application Programming
Interface) are available and learn how to use
them
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Overview of C++
History of C and C++
Why C++?
Why not C++?
Phases of C++ programs
First view of a C++ program

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History of C and C++

History of C
Developed by Dennis Ritchie (at Bell Lab) around 1970
General purpose, mid-level language
Development language of UNIX and many other software
History of C++
Developed by Bjarne Stroustrup (at Bell Lab) around 1980
C with OOP support
Include features to support object-oriented programming (OOP),
which is a new paradigm for designing and constructing programs

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Why C++?

General purpose
Highly platform independent
High performance
Ability to directly access/manipulate contents in
memory
Writing device driver or low-level system programs

Widely use
Support Object-Oriented Programming

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Why Not C++?

Inherits the drawbacks of C

A bloated programming language
Platform dependent (?)
Mix and match OOP and procedural
programming

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Phases of C++ Programs

Source
Files
(.cpp files)

You edit these files

Compile

Object
Files
(.obj files)

Link

Executable
Program
(.exe files)

Other object files and library files

(.obj, .lib, or .dll files)

Compile: Translate C++ codes into equivalent machine (or

binary) codes
Each object file is like a "part" of a program.
Link: Put all the binary "parts" together to form an executable
program
In VS/Xcode, "Build" = Compile + Link
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// The first C++ program.

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
cout << "Hello! ";
cout << "Welcome to CSCI1520\n";
cout << "Computer Principles and C++ Programming!\n";
return 0;
} // End of function "main"

Hello! Welcome to CSCI1520

Computer Principles and C++ Programming!

First view of a C++ Program

A C++ program that outputs a few lines of text.
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// The first C++ program.

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

Single-line
comments

int main()
{
cout << "Hello! ";
cout << "Welcome to CSCI1520\n";
cout << "Computer Principles and C++ Programming!\n";
return 0;
} // End of function "main"

Every program has some basic elements

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// The first C++ program.

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

Single-line
comments

int main()
{
cout << "Hello! ";
cout << "Welcome to CSCI1520\n";
cout << "Computer Principles and C++ Programming!\n";
return 0;
} // End of function "main"

Comments

Document programs
Improve program readability
Ignored by compiler
Single-line comment begins with two slashes //

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// The first C++ program.

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

The main function

int main()
{
cout << "Hello! ";
cout << "Welcome to CSCI1520\n";
cout << "Computer Principles and C++ Programming!\n";
return 0;
} // End of function "main"

Every C++ program has exactly one function named

"main".

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// The first C++ program.

#include <iostream>
Beginning
using namespace std;

part of the main function

int main()
Body of the main function
{
cout << "Hello! ";
cout << "Welcome to CSCI1520\n";
cout << "Computer Principles and C++ Programming!\n";
return 0;
Ending
} // End of function "main"

part of the main function

Characteristics of the main function

The function body contains the instructions that make up your
program.

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// The first C++ program.

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
cout << "Hello! ";
cout << "Welcome to CSCI1520\n";
cout << "Computer Principles and C++ Programming!\n";
return 0;
} // End of function "main"

Statements
Each instruction is called a statement.
Statement is terminated by a semicolon (;)
A single statement can possibly perform many tasks.

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// The first C++ program.

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

We need these in order to

use "cout" to perform
output in the program.

int main()
{
cout << "Hello! ";
cout << "Welcome to CSCI1520\n";
cout << "Computer Principles and C++ Programming!\n";
return 0;
} // End of function "main"

Performing simple output

cout is an object that knows how to send output to the screen.
"Hello! " represents the data to be passed to cout.
<< (called an insertion operator) indicates the you want to pass
the data on the right of the operator to cout.
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// The first C++ program.

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
cout << "Hello! ";
cout << "Welcome to CSCI1520\n";
cout << "Computer Principles and C++ Programming!\n";
return 0;
} // End of function "main"

String Literals
String a sequence of characters
String literal a string enclosed by a pair of double-quote
character (")

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// The first C++ program.

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

Use a backslash character (\)

and not a forward slash
character (/)

int main()
{
cout << "Hello! ";
cout << "Welcome to CSCI1520\n";
cout << "Computer Principles and C++ Programming!\n";
return 0;
} // End of function "main"

Hello! Welcome to CSCI1520

Computer Principles and C++ Programming!

Representing special characters in a string literal

\n newline (enter key)
\\ backslash (\)
\" double quote (")
\t tab key
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#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
statement_1;
statement_2;
...
statement_n;
return 0;
}

General form of a simple C++ program

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Summary
Basic components of a computer
What it means by programming in a high level
programming languages
Advantages of learning C++
Design a solution first, program later
First look at a C++ program
Next Lecture: C++ Basics

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