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. ramzerimar

    MechE undergrad who also enjoys programming and eletronics?

    I'm now at the second year of my MechE course. Until now, I've taken basic classes in physics, calculus, linear algebra and basic computer programming. I choose to undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering because I'm aware that it is a good and broad degree and it's a field that I like also. It...
  2. R

    MHB Intro Programming: Computing Total Cost

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  3. B

    Can I Program a Cell Phone Charger to Optimize Battery Life?

    Hi guys I'm not sure if this is the best place to post this but I couldn't find anywhere else. Would it be possible to program a cell phone charger to detect when a phone is at 20% and then it will start charging? But it won't start charging before 20%. Then it will charge it up to 99% and then...
  4. D

    Interesting Programming Puzzle

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  5. AndrewRibeiro

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  6. evinda

    MHB Solutions to Transport Problems Using Dynamic Programming

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  7. evinda

    MHB How do we use dynamic programming?

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  8. tony873004

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  9. Jarvis323

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  10. onion3000

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  11. jedishrfu

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  12. S

    Would This be a Good Programming "Physics" Project?

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  13. D

    Programs Computer Programming Advice for prospective Physics Majors

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  14. evinda

    MHB Linear programming problem

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  15. evinda

    MHB Solving Linear Programming Problems Graphically

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  16. Dave Ritche

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  17. NicolasPan

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  18. Ryaners

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  19. Mastermind01

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  20. H

    What I need for image processing programming?

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  21. Stephanus

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  22. AliGh

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  23. D

    Comp Sci [JAVA GUI] Counting the trajectory of a projectile not shown

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  24. J

    Maple How Do You Input Formulas for Surface Area Calculations in Maple?

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  25. S

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  26. NicolasPan

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  27. S

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  28. The Eraser

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  29. NicolasPan

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  30. S

    I overuse try-catches in my programming

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  31. SnakeDoc

    C Programming: Arrays and pointers

    Homework Statement So I created two arrays one called departure_time and the other arrival_time and populate each array as follows. I've tried both putting 8 and defining N as 8 int departure_times[N]={480, 538, 679, 767, 840, 945, 1140, 1305}; int arrival_times[N]={616, 712, 811, 900, 968...
  32. cryora

    How much programming can you expect to do in the lab?

    It may be unique to my situation (or it may not, as I was told that AMO is one of the less computational fields of research in Physics), but for my undergraduate research assistant role, my job is to help the research group set up automated experimental controls. That includes learning: Python...
  33. AceTrainerBlue

    Should I Continue Taking Programming Classes?

    Hey, guys. I'm in the 11th grade. The current class that I'm taking right now is called "Computer Programming 11" which is an intro to programming. The entire course is spent learning how to use Microsoft Visual Basic which kinda disappointed me because I originally signed up to learn Python...
  34. NicolasPan

    Comp Sci Fortran 95 code won't run

    Homework Statement . [/B]Hello all ! I am currently trying to make my fortran95 code run in vain.I would really appreciate it if someone could lend my a hand since I am a starter in programming.So the problem goes like that:Create a program capable of calculating the following function: f(x)=1/x...
  35. O

    Bellman Equation, Dynamic Programming, state vs control

    Hi, I am proficient in standard dynamic programming techniques. In the standard textbook reference, the state variable and the control variable are separate entities. However, I have seen examples in economics, in which a single variable, let's say consumption, is both a state variable and a...
  36. S

    What is the optimal solution for constrained nonlinear programming problems?

    Homework Statement 1. Maximise ##x_1^2+(x_2-5)^2## subject to ##x_1 \geq 0, x_2 \geq 0## and ##2x_1+x_2 \leq 4##. 2. Minimise ##x_1^2+(x_2-5)^2## subject to ##x_1 \geq 0, x_2 \geq 0## and ##2x_1+x_2 \leq 4##. 3. Maximise ##2x_2^2-x_1## subject to ##x_1 \geq 0, x_2 \geq 0## and ##x_1^2+x_2^2...
  37. Feodalherren

    BS in ME, want to learn more programming

    Hello everyone, First a little history: I have one more year left after this semester until I finally get my BS in Mechanical Engineering. My GPA is 3.7 right now and I've taken all expect 1 of the hardest classes, I predict that I will be somewhere around 3.8 to 3.9 by the time I graduate. But...
  38. RooksAndBooks

    Avionics Programming Learning Materials?

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  39. A

    AI Seed Programming: Questions & Answers for Nick Bostrom's Superintelligence

    I read Nick Bostroms book "Superintelligence" but can't seem to find an answer to a question I have. I emailed Nick the following (though I'm sure he gets thousands of emails and will likely never respond): Firstly, thank you for the great read. :) My question is this: Why are you so certain...
  40. evinda

    MHB Exploring Canonical Form of Linear Programming

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  41. S

    Nonlinear Programming and Consumer Preferences

    Homework Statement Consider a consumer with wealth ##w## who consumes two goods, which we shall call goods ##1## and ##2.## Let the amount of good ##\mathcal{l}## that the consumer consumes be ##x_{\mathcal{l}}## and the price of good ##\mathcal{l}## be ##p_{\mathcal{l}}##. Suppose that the...
  42. N

    Java Understanding basics of computer programming

    I am having some issues understanding the fundamentals of Java and OOP. In simplest terms possible with an example can you explain to me what an Object, Class and Method are? I am confused on what these actually are. Thank you
  43. evinda

    MHB What is the maximum of the given function in the closed square $D$?

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  44. H

    Help with spatial resolution conversion programming (bmp image)

    Hello guys. I want to ask something about simple spatial resolution manipulating just by using c language. I have done my programming below, it managed to be compiled but for some reasons the program stucked in the middle when I try to run it. Really hope you guys can help. I am extremely...
  45. N

    Comp Sci Java Error: "Type Mismatch" Explained

    I am programming in Eclipse and I keep seeing the error " Type mismatch: cannot convert from int to String", not only in the example I am going to provide but other programs. I've just started programming in Java. Could someone explain to me what this error exactly means? publicclassPracOne{...
  46. A

    C Programming - First assignment not sure how to approach

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  47. D

    MHB Java Programming Boolean if-else statement

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  48. Steven Ellet

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  49. A

    Need Help Pursuing Career in Robotics

    Hello Everyone, I posted in Physics Forums back in 2011 trying to figure out what undergraduate Major to choose based off my interests. I had received very positive feedback then and am seeking more advice now that I am further along in my career. I am a recent undergrad graduate with a major...
  50. LittleMrsMonkey

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    I do know this is very vague and maybe a little bit dumb. But are there languages that are ,generally,used much more than others in atmospheric physics?Excluding meteorology. I put this thread in Academic Guidance because this question is translated to "What computer languages should I focus on...
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