In today's lesson, you'll learn some fundamental terminology about programs. You will also be installing Python.
- Define the term "programming language"
- Describe the difference between syntax, grammar, and semantics
- Explain the meaning of the terms "run" and "execute".
- Install Python on your laptop.
- Use BlockPy to run a program.
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Slide 1 - Programming Languages:
Let's learn about programming languages.
Slide 2 - What is a Programming Language:
Programs are created by writing programs in a programming language.
Programming languages were created by people to give computers clear
instructions.
Slide 3 - Python and its Competition:
In this course, you are learning a programming language named Python. However,
there are many programming languages out there.
Slide 4 - Why Python?:
You might be wondering why Python is a good language to learn, if there are so
many options. First, Python is one of the most popular languages in the world.
Second, it has a huge number of libraries that make it useful for a wide range
of problems. Third, it is a friendly language for beginners.
Slide 5 - A Small Language:
Imagine you were giving commands to a very small child in English. The child
only knows a few words. If they don't know a word, you will have to explain it
to them using words they already understand. Programming Languages are similar
to this - you build new words using a small set of original words.
Slide 6 - Commands:
Human languages, like English, can be used to talk about many complex ideas.
However, programming languages are good for only one thing: giving
instructions to a computer. We don't use programming languages to talk to each
other the same way we do human languages.
Slide 7 - Rules:
Programming languages have very strict rules. This is similar to how we have
rules in English. There are two kinds of rules: syntax and semantics.
Slide 8 - Syntax:
In English, we follow grammar rules about how we can structure our sentences.
The sentence below is not grammatically correct english , so we would reject
it. Similarly, in Python, we use symbols, spaces, and words in very precise
ways. Using them incorrectly will give you a "syntax error". You will probably
make many syntax errors as you learn to program.
Slide 9 - Semantics:
Although the sentence below follows grammar rules, it doesn't make any sense.
This is the idea of semantics. It is very easy to write perfectly valid
sentences in Python that accomplish nothing at best and hurt things at worst.
You need to think when programming, to recognize when you've written something
that makes no sense.
The following readings should be relevant. Remember, all readings are optional!
- Automate the Boring Stuff: Chapter 1, about the first half
- Coding for Beginners: Pages 10-17, but I don't recommend using IDLE.
- How to Think like a Computer Scientist: Chapters 1.3 - 1.11
Programs are written by programmers using programming languages such as Python.