PDQ Programming Languages plus an overview of Alice - Frank Ducrest

PDQ *Programming Languagesplus anOverview of AliceFrank Ducrest, 5/21/08

* Pretty Darn Quick

Anything that can be done in hardwarecan be done in software, anything that can be done in software can be done in hardware, ...- Architectural Axiom about Modern Computers

... but you have to pick the right subset of instructions to create in hardware.

PDQ Programming Languages plus an Overview of Alice

So what is software?

Instructions to hardware.

So what are instructions to hardware?

Patterns of high and low electrical charges that energize / activate patterns of hardware circuits in a processor.

i.e. Binary code.


How does software get created?

By a process known as programming.

Alright, wise guy. What is programming?

Direct creation of binary code.

Or by use of a human level programming language and an intermediate program known as a compiler or an interpreter. The compiler or interpreter is passed the code created in the programming language and returns binary code.


At last! What's a Programming Language?

An artificial language that is used to control a computer.

... But beyond that, not everyone agrees what a programming

language should be.

...And there has to be a separate interpreter or compiler for

every language used on every processor type.


Categories of programming Languages

procedural vs. functional

written (syntax & semantics) vs. non-written (semantics)

generational - 1st / 2nd / 3rd / 4th

object oriented vs. non-object oriented

strongly typed vs. loosely typed

general purpose vs. special purpose



Alice

Example of a programming language with the following attributes

procedural

non-written, mostly (limited syntax, lots of semantics)

strongly typed

object oriented

4th generation programming language

special purpose: introducing object oriented programming concepts

http://www.alice.org/

http://www.alice.org/index.php?page=downloads/download_alice

Alice IDE


Editor

World Window

Welcome Dialog Box

EventsArea

ObjectTree

ObjectDetails

Preexisting Objects

Libraries of preexisting objects locally and on the web

Objects are selected and added to the world, then manipulated


Object Methods

Existing and programmer created Object Methods are used to contain calls to existing and created methods

Structures are used to control execution of calls

Parameters allow same method to change operation


Events

Events determine what happens when


Play the World


Alice BooksAn Introduction to Programming Using AliceCharles W. HebertCourse TechnologyISBN-10: 1418836257ISBN-13: 978-1418836252

Learning To Program with Alice, 2nd EditionDann, Cooper and PauschPrentice Hall (available July 10, 2008)ISBN-10: 013208516XISBN-13: 978-0132085168

Learning to Program with Alice, Brief Edition (Paperback)Dann, Cooper and PauschPrentice HallISBN-10: 0132397757ISBN-13: 978-0132397759


PDQ Programming Languages plus an overview of Alice - Frank Ducrest

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