What is Programming: Definition and 1000 Discussions

Computer programming is the process of designing and building an executable computer program to accomplish a specific computing result or to perform a specific task. Programming involves tasks such as: analysis, generating algorithms, profiling algorithms' accuracy and resource consumption, and the implementation of algorithms in a chosen programming language (commonly referred to as coding). The source code of a program is written in one or more languages that are intelligible to programmers, rather than machine code, which is directly executed by the central processing unit. The purpose of programming is to find a sequence of instructions that will automate the performance of a task (which can be as complex as an operating system) on a computer, often for solving a given problem. Proficient programming thus often requires expertise in several different subjects, including knowledge of the application domain, specialized algorithms, and formal logic.
Tasks accompanying and related to programming include: testing, debugging, source code maintenance, implementation of build systems, and management of derived artifacts, such as the machine code of computer programs. These might be considered part of the programming process, but often the term software development is used for this larger process with the term programming, implementation, or coding reserved for the actual writing of code. Software engineering combines engineering techniques with software development practices. Reverse engineering is a related process used by designers, analysts and programmers to understand and re-create/re-implement.

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  1. I

    Looking for programming exercises for OOP in Python

    Hello I learned object oriented programming in Python from a book. But it does not have any programming exercises. I do not learn very much unless I do some programming exercises. It helps to hone the skills. So, I am looking for some exercises if OOP Python is taught in universities. Usually...
  2. shivajikobardan

    MHB What what should I do while learning programming?

    Here is what I have planned to do-: 1) Do 1 course. 2) Buy a python textbook and solve it exercises and examples. 3) Solve 250 codewars problems 4) Do numerical methods in python. 5) Do cryptography algorithms in python. Will this be enough for my learning to be good enough to be a web developer...
  3. shivajikobardan

    What should I do while learning programming?

    Here is what I have planned to do-: 1) Do 1 course. 2) Buy a python textbook and solve it exercises and examples. 3) Solve 250 codewars problems 4) Do numerical methods in python. 5) Do cryptography algorithms in python. Will this be enough for my learning to be good enough to be a web developer...
  4. shivajikobardan

    How to learn python programming and get a web developer job?

    I am learning absolute basic python from udemy course. Till now I see no improvements at all. Except some small small improvements. How should I approach to learn python? I have 0 basics of programming even though I had already studied C and C++ as well as data structures and algorithm. I...
  5. F

    Optimization Problem - Dynamic Programming

    Summary:: Hi, this is an exercise from an algorithm course. I have been trying for hours but I have no successful ideas on how to solve it. I can only understand that DP is the correct approach, since Greedy method does not work. Suppose you have *n* friends that wants to give you an amount of...
  6. shivajikobardan

    What is the best interpereter/IDE for python basic programming?

    What is the best IDE out there? It should be easy to use. Not as easy as online editors though.
  7. S

    Substantial programming skills, and software versus programming

    @StatGuy2000 said in another topic this part quoted here: The name of the topic was "From math PhD to space industry-possible?" The listing of what was suggested for the PhD student to learn looks like a large amount. Four different programming languages, although he did not say to what level...
  8. N

    Programming language: what to study after the basics?

    Hey everyone :). after studying c++ and a bit of phyton in the university (not in a career related to programming), I was wondering what to study after the basics. youtube tutorials are at about the same level as I was at (inheritance, class, pointer), not more advance... what is the...
  9. elcaro

    Whatever happened to Intentional Programming paradigm?

    Has the approach towards programming, like for instance that of Intentional Programming, been proven to be fruitfull?
  10. S

    Comp Sci A Question about modulus R in Rabin Karp Algorithm

    Hello, I am learning trying to set up a code that searches for a certain pattern in the text by implementing Rabin-Karp Algorithm. When setting up the Rabin Karp hash function, I have been told that I should set a value q in order to lower the time complexity of the function, and that q should...
  11. D

    Python How does one assess progress when learning a programming language?

    I'm a physics major (Junior) who would like to learn a programming language. Many suggest Python as a good starting language, so let's suppose that is the language I want to first learn. This isn't for employability or general usefulness; rather, I'm just curious. How exactly does one go about...
  12. S

    Why is/was LISP good for AI programming?

    Why is/was the LISP programming language thought to be good for writing programs that implement artificial intelligence? As I imagine it, early AI programs were oriented toward verbal (i.e. text) inputs and outputs. So perhaps a list processing language is/was well suited for that?
  13. elcaro

    Why do programming languages usually not implement number types with units?

    In fact, the only programming language I know of that implements something like units is the programming language Frink. In other programming languages, the implementation is left to the programmer, for example C++ can implement this as a class.
  14. ergospherical

    Other Should I Learn C Programming from an Old Book?

    My dad gave me his old copy of "the c programming language" by Kernighan and Ritchie, but I was flicking through it and it comes across as quite old-fashioned and has a lot of random sh*t like pointer arithmetic, memory allocation etc. Being an idiot, and one who's pretty out of practice with...
  15. sbrothy

    "Funny" Observations From (PERL) Programming Docs...

    So here I am slaving over Perl documentation (For my own pleasure I'm sad to say. I regard programming as LEGO for grownups) and I'm finding weird and funny things like: I mean what is that about? And perhaps less obvious: Well yes, it might :) You have any even more crazy or funny...
  16. P

    Job Skills Any industry jobs for physics grads requiring no programming?

    Hi all, my question is as title. I am a fourth year PhD student in US and planning to graduate early to get in industry or community college. I major in high energy theory, and I have no coding/simulation skills at all (not interested at all). Thus, my situation is that professionally I have...
  17. J

    Help Programming ARM7TDMI-S in Assembly

    Hello friends, I'm looking to program the ARM7TDMI-S in assembly. Can anyone recommend any good development boards? Can anyone recommend an IDE? Can anyone recommend a textbook that would be good for leaning how to program this processor in Assembly? I know various other programming languages...
  18. person123

    I Fitting Data to Grafted Distribution

    I have a set of data (representing the strength distribution of samples), and I would like to fit a normal-Weibull grafted distribution. To the left of a specified graft point, the distribution is Weibull, and to the right it's normal. At the graft point, the value and the first derivative are...
  19. J

    Programming Languages used in Graduate School? (quantum, high energy, and nuclear physics)

    Hello, I have 1 undergrad year left and was wondering what the most used programming languages in grad school are. I still don't know which grad school will accept me so I haven't bothered to ask them directly as my application will be in November when I get my GRE scores. I am Interested in...
  20. Z

    Linearizing an equation for Mixed-integer linear programming (MILP)

    Summary:: Linearizing an equation for MILP Hi All I have Linear programming problem where I need to linearise the following function: Y = A * log2(1 + (Bx/Cx^2)). where A, B and C are constants. Can you please help or advise?
  21. B

    Linear Programming Question

    I've tried formulating the LP model for the question above and would like to check if I'm doing anything incorrectly. Below is my LP model. Let X1 be the number of one-child family interviewed on weekdays morning Let X2 be the number of one-child family interviewed on weekdays evening Let X3...
  22. B

    How to write basic syntax for triangle recursion?

    Hi, I'm new to programming in python [total beginner in programming] and I would like to ask you for your help. Here is what I got so far: import numpy as np import random from math import sqrt p = np.array([(0, 0), (1, 0), (1, (1/sqrt(2)))], dtype=float) t = np.array((0, 0)...
  23. anorlunda

    Getting Started With Computers and Programming

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  24. T

    Where To Start? (Learning Java for Game Design)

    Hello, I am currently in my final year of middle school and I will be entering high school next year either public or private. Afr that I am of to college, where I would get more experience with game design. I would like to be a programmer when I graduate but, to get there I need to learn and I...
  25. Philip551

    Preparing for a Physics Degree: The Role of Programming in High School

    How can a high school student prepare for a physics degree with programming. i.e. which programming language, what packages?
  26. Arman777

    Dynamical Programming - Sum of numbers / Advanced Problem

    Let us suppose we have an equation such that $$N = \sum_{i=1}^N ix_i = x_1 + 2x_2 + 3x_3 + ...+Nx_N$$ and we also know that the solutions (i.e ##x_i##) ranges from ##\{0, N\}##. For example, if ##N=4## we would have $$x_1 + 2x_2 + 3x_3 + 4x_4 = 4$$ and ##x_1,x_2,x_3,x_4## will range from...
  27. Y

    What is my next logical step in programming?

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  28. Y

    Best Programming Language for a Smart Teenager

    OK, since you guys are just talking amount yourselves, I want to ask a question about learning C++. I really want to expose my grand daughter to programming. She's 14 only. I was going to learn Python and work with her as it's supposed to be easier. But I am thinking, what if I work with her to...
  29. Hacker Jack

    What was your motivation to learn programming?

    Personally I don't know exactly why I want to learn programming. I am doing it anyway but my views on life are very dull and bland, I don't have any real interests besides basic human survival instincts which I think are where all my motivations stems from. I am a young adult now but as a kid...
  30. V

    Optimizing Resources with Linear Programming: A Step-by-Step Approach

    I am comfortable solving these types of problems, however I am having trouble setting up this problem and am unsure if I am doing this correctly so would someone be able to assist me? I first wrote an equation for the people: 10x +8y +11z. Then I made an equation for the flour: 4x + 12y + 8z...
  31. M

    MHB Dynamic programming: which recurrence relation do we use?

    Hey! :unsure: At the cash register of a store we want to give change of worth $V$ cents of euro. Create and analyze a greedy algorithm that gives the change using the minimum number of coins. Assume that the available coins are the euro subdivisions, i.e. $\{1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50\}$ and that we...
  32. andrewkirk

    Programming style in R - to array-process or not?

    R enables processing arrays by single statements rather than via loops, by having almost all commands able to apply to arrays as well as to scalars. I seem to recall, when I first learned it (a long while ago now) feeling that the intro texts, and user comments online, encouraged the practice of...
  33. mertcan

    Linear programming and resolution theorem

    Hi everyone hope you are well, I would like to express what I have done for this question: Proving and employing caratheodory theorem we can say that any point in polyhedron can be expressed as a convex combination of at most n+1 points (where n is the space dimension) in same polyhedron that...
  34. sa1988

    Pure Physicist - A physics simulator app

    There are plenty of physics apps around already but most seem to just be words and pictures. I haven't found many that offer good simulators for proper textbook physics. So I made one. Pure Physicist - Google Play The underlying physics 'engine' uses the as yet incomplete University Physics...
  35. V

    Comp Sci Programming with Java -- Reading From the Terminal

    Right now I am learning coding on Java using IntelliJ IDEA. I have coded before on C++ and then Python, so I understand a little on Java. I'm not really sure how exactly I would change code so that it would read input from the terminal? Would I have to use a Scanner for this? I can post the...
  36. sbrothy

    Studying Internalizing math using programming?

    I know this isn't really asking for advice but maybe someone has a comment or two... As a young(er) man, while many of my friends fooled around doing drugs and (other) mindless entertainment, I was enough of a nerd to want to learn programming. Of course, I didn't spend my entire youth in...
  37. sbrothy

    Where Can I Find Information About the 2019 Programming Competition?

    I seem to have found a programming competition øen (for 2019),but I cannot find it again. Anyone have a clue where this went?
  38. Y

    What is the next step for learning programming?

    So far, I almost finish chapter 10 in C++ book by Gaddis, have 3 to 4 more chapters to go. I want to start thinking about what is my next step to learn. Should I learn another language or move onto other parts of programming? I have been thinking what is my interest, I am not into gaming at...
  39. J

    Best Environment/Programming Language for simple physics Simulations

    Hello, I am looking for something to simulate/visualize simple particles and classical physics equations, preferably moving in real time Requirements: -Able to turn matrices/functions into geometric representations(visualize sphere, visualize a cylinder etc.) -Can do the classic ball bouncing...
  40. Y

    Trying to decide which programming language I want to learn

    Hi I just want to learn a language, but I don't know which one is best for me. I did programming back in the 70s and early 80s, mainly in assembly language. I learned Fortran, Basic and Pascal before, but they are so old. I since changed my career to analog and RF electronic designs and had not...
  41. Daniel Lima

    Python How to plot a function with multiple parameters on the same set of axes

    I attached a file with some explanations of the variables in the code and the plot that I should get. I don't know what is wrong. Any help will appreciated. from scipy.integrate import quad import numpy as np from scipy.special import gamma as gamma_function from scipy.constants import e...
  42. nughii

    Error in trapezoidal integration using a Programming language

    Summary:: I want to iterate a mathematical model using a programming language. The equation of the mathematical model is simple. The following is a brief explanation. I want to iterate a mathematical model using a programming language. The equation of the mathematical model is simple. The...
  43. Ishika_96_sparkles

    Mathematica Want to learn Mathematica programming

    Could anybody already working in Mathematica guide me? I want to learn how to program for physics, to be able to simple models, make graphs for equations, and finally able to solve problems especially Quantum mechanics. Where should i begin? I have never used such 'software?/language?' before. I...
  44. Tone L

    Bare Metal Programming for Beginners

    Hey friends, I have had some time on my hand due to the COVID-19 pandemic and I hope everyone at PF is doing well. Thus, I have been learning some introductory electronics. This may be more of an opioniated question but, I am curious to hear from some ~experts~. From my understanding, bare...
  45. H

    Other Programming in Statistics Careers

    [Mod note: post moved to its own thread] I have a question about statistic type of employment if you care to answer it. My question is in statistics type careers does programming matter more or does mathematical knowledge of statistics matter more? What I mean is that a statistic person...
  46. A

    Execution of a Computer Program

    Hello Everyone, I want to know about various types of errors that can occur during the execution of a computer program? I am learning programming skills right now and Can anyone know about it? Or anyone knows which types of questions have put in a programming based profile as a beginner point?
  47. P

    Programming a Diffraction Pattern by the (pseudo?) method of images

    I oriented a magnetic dipole perpendicular to the hole (parallel to the ŷ ŷ y^ŷ direction) with one end at it's origin and I get the following pattern I was really looking for something like this As you can see I'm getting almost the exact opposite of what I want since I'm going for...
  48. wolram

    Why Is My Freenove Spider Bot Programming Screen Missing?

    Just for fun I am building a spider bott, but I am sure there is a problem in the down load page as there is no progamming screen, I can give anyone the url if they care to look, any help appreciated. Thanks Wolram.
  49. sysprog

    Computational Free Programming Language Textbooks

    Links to pages for open source textbooks for 35 programming languages and for no-charge textbooks for 3 more: https://www.ossblog.org/opensourcebooks/.
  50. Svein

    Design a Ringbuffer for Thread Communication

    Design dokument for ”Ringbuffer” The basic design object is Ringbuffer: Object { private char buf[]; int buf_size, put_on, take_off; bool empty, full; int init(int size); int next(int ix); public int put(char ch); int get(void); } Additional design info The design goal...
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