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7.pne
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1987-04-21
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Computing for Beginners
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
by Keefy
~~~~~~~~
Final Part
~~~~~~~~~~
Hiya once again guys, and welcome to what is unfortunately the final part
of the beginners guide to computing. There's a limit to my knowledge of
the subject so i thought i'd better make this the last before i start
wittering on about things i know nothing about. This time i'll be talking
about software. After all, what use would our beloved ST be without it?.
Hardware is no good whatsoever without software. It can only work if it's
given step by step instructions and these instructions are called a
program. Programs are called Software, and are usually stored on tape or
disc although some are stored on chips (a la GEM).
There are 2 types of software:
SYSTEMS SOFTWARE and APPLICATIONS SOFTWARE
Systems software is needed by every computer. It enables the computer to
perform tasks and process applications software. It gives you an
operating system which will allocate memory, communicate with the operator
and input and output units and handle errors and recovery. It also gives
you system utilities which are only called when requested by the operator.
For example file initialisation, copying, directories etc... Compilers and
assemblers translate the programs into machine code, or binary - a form
that the computer can understand.
Applications software instructs the computer to process data in a specific
way so that the operator can carry out tasks. For example, word
processing, spreadsheets, databases and graphics. Some software packages
may work in conjuction with others, for example a database may provide
names and addresses for a mail-merge, spreadsheets may provide
calculations which can be transferred to a database. Software which
transfer data from one package to another in this way is said to be
integrated.
Other software may be designed for a smaller range of tasks, and some
companies will pay to have software amended or specially written for the
work they wish to computerise.
Whatever task a program is designed to complete, the stages involved in
developing it are basically the same. Although i must admit, the order is
somewhat a matter of taste.
1.Program Analysis
2.Program Design
3.Coding
4.Assembly or Compilation
5.Testing and De-bugging
6.Documentation
Program analysis......what work must be done, and how will it be tackled?.
Program Design........details of the task will be set out showing the
order in which the tasks are to be completed. A
flowchart could be designed to set out the logical
steps of the program.
Coding.................At this stage the program will be written to follow
the program design.
Assembly/Compilation...This stage converts the program into machine code
(or binary) so that it can be used by the computer.
Testing/de-bugging.....Once the computer can use the program, it must be
used and tested to make sure that it works
correctly.
Documentation..........Finally, details of the program must be written
down so that the user understands how to operate
the program. Explaining what keys to press and
what the program will do as a result. This is then
made into a manual as the programmer is very rarely
available to train the operator.
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Computers 'think' in binary, or machine code, but for the ordinary person
it is very difficult to think in binary digits. Therefore programming
languages have been designed to make it easier for us. Most languages are
either high or low level languages. High level languages have a syntax
closer to English (or french etc...)Thus making the programming a good
deal easier. There are hundreds of high level languages in common use and
more are being developed all the time. Low level languages are far closer
to machine code and require a greater knowledge of the computer used in
order to learn it. The main low level language is assembler.
The more commomn high level languages and their applications are.....
COBOL......Usually used for commercial data processing.
BASIC......Considered by many to be a beginners only cpable of short
programs, usually by coders of other languages. Stos programmers would
obviously disagree, as do i. I've seen some huge STOS programs.
Pascal.....General small scale programming
Fortran....A scientific language used for mathematical and engineering
applications.
Prolog.....Information retreival and databases.
Logo.......List processing.
Right thats it for this issue, and probably for the series, but i may
change my mind and do something next issue, maybe about networks or
something.
Au revoir!.