This book is organized into three "parts" separated by major milestones in gaining programming knowledge. Part 1 shows how to apply basic concepts of programming. It goes through the details of writing programs using freely available "editor" and "compiler" software. It shows how to store data in "variables" for use in calculations, and how to produce nice-looking output. These chapters teach all that is needed to create simple interactive programs that gather "input" perform calculations based on the input, and display "output" using calculated results. Part 2 adds elements of logic to the simple programs of part 1. Ways are presented for making programs selectively use different sets of instructions, based on circumstances. Ways to get a program to repeat itself are also presented, allowing things to be done more than once without duplicating the steps. These chapters teach what is needed to create more sophisticated programs with "branching" and "looping" logic, such as would be required for computer games and almost every other useful program. Part 3 introduces the powerful concept of single variables that can store multiple values all at the same time. "Array" variables can store multiple values of the same type, and are suitable for dealing with lists, such as lists of test scores, high temperatures, or names of students. "Object" variables can store multiple values of related information, and are suitable for dealing with data records, such as student accounts with names, IDs, and addresses. Chapters 13-15 introduce advanced applications of arrays and objects, for the purpose of first exposure to some advanced computer science concepts, but primarily to provide an opportunity to apply the language elements learned in parts 1 and 2.

About the Author

Robert Burns is a professor of Computer Science at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California, where he teaches first and second year computer programming students, preparing them for further study in computer science, computer engineering, and related fields. Professor Burns designed the Programming Concepts series for first year programming students at the college. In addition to teaching, Professor Burns is a contract programmer and web programmer with continuous experience dating back to the 1970s.

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