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. L

    What Can Function Prototypes Do Without Parameters and Return Values?

    Just some basic questions i have about function prototypes (functions) What's an example of a code which has no parameters? ie: double func(void) what is the purpose if the thing doesn't take in parameters? also, what if there is keyboard input and screen input what does that mean in the...
  2. S

    Can I Create & Share Physics Programs Online with Graphics?

    Howdy Folks- I've developed an online programming environment that physics enthusiasts would find useful. You can use it to write programs & publish them online. There's built-in graphics capabilities, if you want to do fancy visualization stuff. http://sporkforge.com/sporkapps/build.php
  3. C

    Micro-controller Programming Problem - Assembly

    Homework Statement I am writing a program to loop (rotate) two lit LEDs through eight LEDs on my board. For Example: 11000000 01100000 00110000 00011000 00001100 00000110 00000011 Where the ones are lit LEDs and the zeros are non-lit LEDs. It is supposed to loop forever. Homework Equations...
  4. kjohnson

    Programming Efficiency N-body problem

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  5. Greg Bernhardt

    ESPN's Push to 3D Programming: Pros & Cons

    I was reading this story on CNN about how ESPN is starting to develop and implement 3D programming. http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/01/05/espn.3d/index.html It seems like an obvious step with the 3D movies out. However, besides the fact you'll need to buy a new TV, you will also need those 3D...
  6. L

    C/C++ C++ programming and electrical engineering

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  7. C

    Guide to Programming Languages: Beginner's Path

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  8. L

    Computer programming a great career?

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  9. J

    Linear programming - profit maximisation

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  10. M

    Linear Programming Production Line

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  11. O

    Programming a PIC 16F886 on a FR28 I/O board

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  12. A

    MATLAB How Can I Program a Series Using Pi in Matlab?

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  13. S

    Electric engineering programming language

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  14. B

    Solve FORTRAN 77 Programming Problem: Date Validation & Conversion

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  15. K

    C Programming: give command a 5 sec interval to run

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  16. I

    C Programming: Adding 16bit and 32bit Integers with Local and Global Variables

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  17. C

    Help in C Programming: Fixing Errors with nr.h & nrutil.h Libraries

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  18. A

    Mathematica Drawing a ParametricPlot3D in Mathematica with n & t

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  19. F

    Programs Is being good at programming necessary for comp sci major?

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  20. R

    Recommend a book on Python Programming

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  21. J

    Best Beginner Programming Language?

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  22. D

    Which programming language should I learn?

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  23. K

    Which programming language should i use for my project? And question about PIC.

    I will be doing my finalyear project next year. And I thought of building a robotic butler, i.e: a robot that can be summoned by the user with a click on the remote control to bring the food/drinks that are stored in it to the user. I am hoping that the robot could trace and go to the signal...
  24. G

    What is the best programming language for building a 2D pathfinding robot?

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  25. M

    Suggestions for an AI programming project?

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  26. K

    How Do I Complete Pseudocode for Classroom Score Calculations?

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  27. M

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  28. V

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  29. D

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  30. H

    How can I use Runge Kutta to solve coupled first order DE's in Matlab?

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  31. C

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  32. H

    Maximize (nonlinear programming)

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  33. K

    Optimality Condition for Linear Programming Solutions

    Homework Statement A feasible dictionary whose last row reads z = z* + ∑ cjxjdescribes an optimal solution if and only if cj ≤ 0 for all j. Prove or disprove. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution It is clear that if all c's are ≤ 0, then the solution is optimal since increasing any of...
  34. J

    Sites for chemistsry programming

    hi everyone, one of my homework questions asks me to write a computer program to evaluate the Planck distribution at any temperature and wavelength and add it to a routine for evaluating integrals for the energy density of the radiation between two wavelengths. I have never used any...
  35. R

    MATLAB Calculate Grades and Pass/Fail Status with Basic Matlab Programming

    http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/3078/15688239.gif So here's my script: x=[a, b, c, d]; w=[0.65 0.2 0.05 0.1]'; final=x*w; disp(final); if 65>final>=50 disp('Grade is: C') elseif 80>final>=65 disp('Grade is: B') elseif final>=80 disp('Grade is: A') If final>=50...
  36. J

    Programming to find Planck distribution

    hi everyone, one of my homework questions asks me to write a computer program to evaluate the Planck distribution at any temperature and wavelength and add it to a routine for evaluating integrals for the energy density of the radiation between two wavelengths. I have never used any programming...
  37. X

    Programming smooth x/y acceleration change to target a moving point

    TL;dr: "I am not sure how to calculate a smooth transition of thrust between one vector and another." Hi, this looked like the right place to post this being "The mathematics of change and motion". I am programming a simple game where an enemy chases after the player in an open space (no...
  38. R

    Which programming language is best for Scientists/Modeling Physical World

    Hello There, I'm a senior at the University of Illinois Chicago, studying mathematics and chemistry; I'm at the point where I need to become familiar with a computer programming language that will not only be useful down the road but help with the admission process into graduate school...
  39. S

    Linear Programming Homework: Find Range of x & y, Max y-2x

    Homework Statement Sketch the area that fulfills : x + y ≥ 1 3y ≥ 2x - 1 2y ≤ 3x and find the range of x and y that are restricted. Find the maximum value of y – 2x that satisfies the area above and find also the value of xHomework Equations Line equationThe Attempt at a Solution I've drawn...
  40. E

    Math / Programming Problem

    I am trying to determine whether or not any part of a line segment is located within a square box. I have the coordinates of the line segment end points and the corners of the square box. This problem is easy for the case where one or both end points are located in the box, but I don't know...
  41. P

    Admissions Advice on applying programming to physics

    I've got a small amount of programming under my belt right now. I learned some java in my AP Comp Sci AB class and got a 4 on the AP. I want to work on my my programming with the specific intention of getting research experience in physics. It's a little hard for me to work on solely...
  42. B

    What is the best programming language for beginners?

    Hello everyone. I want to start learning some sort of computer programming. ...Where do I start?... Yes. That is all I have. I don't know what kind, cause I don't know what kind does what. I don't even know what kinds there are, or if there are kinds. I am blissfully ignorant...
  43. D

    Non Student Teaching Self Physics: Question about Science Programming Languages.

    My situation is that I taught myself Calculus 1, 2 and some 3 over the last year, and the better part of Freshman physics for majors, mechanics and EM. I bought 4 texts to learn from: Halliday, Tipler, Giancoli, and Young and Freedman. And I just started learning Diff. Eq. & Linear Algebra...
  44. D

    Programming light sensors for robot

    Hey guys I'm building a robot and just finished all the circuit work, and am now working on programming it. I got all the basic movement functions down, but am having trouble with a few things. How do you make it turn..fast? i can make it turn but its horrible. Also i have two light sensors put...
  45. thrill3rnit3

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  46. K

    MATLAB Some Matlab technical programming problem

    Hi there every one I need some help with the following function: function cc = find_cc(n) global nu cc(1)=(-8.*i.*nu1-3.*n.^2-5+4.*i.*nu1.*n-4.*n)./n./(-n-2+4.*i.*nu1); cc(2)=(3.*n.^2+2.*n+4)./n./(-n-2+4.*i.*nu1); cc(3)=-(n-1).*(n+1)./n./(-n-2+4.*i.*nu1); end where \nu is...
  47. E

    How do you implement complex numbers into programming?

    For instance, if I had a function of a complex variable z, how can I evaluate that function using a program?
  48. R

    Programs Declarative programming: useful for a physics/EEng double major?

    Hi everyone, been reading stuff here for a while but first time poster:) I am first year at university going for a Physics/Electrical Engineering. Looking at my options this year and I came across this paper...
  49. E

    What kind of maths do i need to go into programming?

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  50. N

    What is the Correct Way to Initialize a Character in C Programming?

    the foolowing program is to read inputed data and display them all at once but when i run it it asks for the first information and then runs the total program without asking for the input of other information.after that it doesn't respond and closes immediatelly. can someone help me and tells...
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