Programming Definition and 147 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. C

    Help with this emu8086 assembly language problem please

    Summary:: my code has been successfully showing the right decrement of the letter. however, i tried to put space in between the letter output but its output became repititive letters. this is the original output when i try to put space it become like this i want to put spaces on the output...
  2. 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...
  3. 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...
  4. 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...
    • person123
    • Thread
    • distribution fitting normal optimization programming
    • Replies: 6
    • Forum: General Math
  5. 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)...
  6. 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...
  7. 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...
  8. 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...
  9. 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?
  10. sa1988

    C/++/# Open Source C# Physics Library

    TL:DR; I've started an open source C# physics library: University Physics The Long Version So it turns out there's relatively little in the way of full physics libraries written in C# (the best I can find is bepuphysics which seems to be focused only on classical mechanics). With this...
  11. astroman707

    B How prevalent is the R language in astronomy research?

    I’ve heard that C++, python, and IDL are most commonly used in observational astronomy research, but how common is R in the field?
  12. E

    Job Skills Leaving a 2nd Master's degree to accept an offer abroad

    This is my first post so don't be too harsh. I was just looking to get additional opinions in order to make a more informed decision. Since I always had the idea of becoming an astrophysicist I enrolled in Bsc in physics engineering (5 years) here, and due to being the top student I was invited...
  13. Abimbola1987

    FPGA/CPLD advice appreciated

    Dear Sirs, I'm using Microchip PIC's as programmable laboratory timer among other things, but the 100ns instruction cycles are not adequate anymore. So I thought of beefing it up with a 5M40Z MAX-V CPLD which has 5ns end-to-end delay, bought the programmer and downloaded the Quartus Prime Lite...
  14. Mark44

    Insights AVX-512 Assembly Programming: Opmask Registers for Conditional Arithmetic Conclusion - Comments

    Greg Bernhardt submitted a new blog post AVX-512 Assembly Programming: Opmask Registers for Conditional Arithmetic Conclusion Continue reading the Original Blog Post.
  15. Mark44

    Insights AVX-512 Assembly Programming: Opmask Registers for Conditional Arithmetic - Comments

    Greg Bernhardt submitted a new blog post AVX-512 Assembly Programming: Opmask Registers for Conditional Arithmetic Continue reading the Original Blog Post.
  16. L

    Looking for ideas for a physics related application

    Hi! I am a computer science student and I want to program an application to improve my programming skills. I am interested in physics and have taken 3 physics courses at University, and would like to look deeper into a specific area during this project. It can be an extensive project, as I have...
  17. Mark44

    Insights An Intro to AVX-512 Assembly Programming - Comments

    Greg Bernhardt submitted a new blog post An Intro to AVX-512 Assembly Programming Continue reading the Original Blog Post.
  18. scottdave

    Sites for some practice programming

    This is not a question, but a note, which I thought could help students. I thought I would share this here, as people may be looking for practice problems. My professor in the Python course I just finished recommended https://projecteuler.net/ as a site to practice using programming skills...
  19. S

    A change in the dielectric constant changes the current or voltage?

    hi everyone! i am not into physics, but need it now,i am a programmer workin on an IOT project...so kinda need help. i want to use a capacitor to see what passed between two plates...knowing, it is the change in dielectric after certain intervals......how do i measure the change at the other...
  20. Ottodomus

    Fortran Need to do a multitask program in Fortran 95

    Hi everyone, I am new programming in Fortran and Inhave done about three or four programs that solves different problems in trigonometry, one is the basic one it gives you hypotenuse upon two sides, the other finds the theta angle by giving hypotenuse and opposite side, other find hypotenuse by...
  21. S

    Is the use of null an anti-pattern?

    I remember a while back someone told me that there exist programmers who don't believe in null. I thought that was a crazy idea. Until recently, as I've gotten better at OOP and have figure out that if my object has a property that is allowed to be set to null, it usually means that I am not...
  22. S

    Event-driven system and subscribers missing events

    Let's say I have a service that publishes events, like eo ("Bought 100 shares of AAPL") e1 ("Bought 100 shares of T") e2 ("Sold 500 shares of TSLA") and there exist stateful services subscribing to the events and whose state depends on the events being processed successfully and in the correct...
  23. QuantumQuest

    Insights Intro to Data Structures for Programming - Comments

    Greg Bernhardt submitted a new blog post Intro to Data Structures for Programming Continue reading the Original Blog Post.
  24. astroman707

    Programs Is a 2nd major in comp sci useful in computational physics?

    I'm majoring in physics and I'm planning on pursuing computational astrophysics in graduate school. Will a second major in computer science/programming look good to graduate schools, and/or will it give me great advantages in the field of computational astrophysics or astronomy?
  25. Quantum_Arcanium

    Physics Want to become Theoretical Physicist but don't know Coding

    Hi, I am an aspiring Theoretical Physicist. I've heard that you need to know many programming languages to become a Physicist, but I have never learned a single programming language in my life and I am 16-17 years old now. Is there any chance of me still becoming one? Is there anything I can do...
  26. astroman707

    Other How to transition from school teacher to programmer?

    I’ve been a school teacher for 6 years, and I want to get into coding. I’ve been told by a CS professor I know that my background is very sought after in the tech industry, and I would be very competitive if I got into coding. Is this true? What’s the best route, bootcamp, nanodegree, etc.? What...
  27. astroman707

    Programs Should my second major to physics be programming or math?

    I’m planning on attending graduate school for physics. My interest is currently in cosmology and astrophysics, but I’m keeping an open mind. I’d like to be prepared in case I choose another field, or go into private sector instead of academia. I’ve decided I want to double major in my...
  28. W

    The coming revolution in physics education

    Classical physics is difficult because it is based on differential equations, and the differential equations of interest are usually unsolvable. The student must invest a lot of time in learning difficult math, and still can only analyze very simple systems. This difficulty arises in the first...
  29. U

    How to calculate triac angle to set desired RMS voltage

    Hi, I would like to implement voltage regulator based on microcontroller + triac. I am able to calculate source RMS voltage by sampling signal using ADC, but dont know how to calculate triac angle to set desired RMS voltage. For example i have 250v source RMS voltage and i need to calculate...
  30. QuantumQuest

    Insights Intro to Algorithms for Programming - Comments

    Greg Bernhardt submitted a new PF Insights post Intro to Algorithms for Programming Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.
  31. L

    Addition of two plane waves

    To whom it may concern, I am having issues with a given assignment in my quantum mechanics class. The instructions listed below are all I have to go on since the prof. is not available for discussion and I have searched through at least 15 articles regarding plane waves and a dozen textbooks...
  32. J

    I need help decrypting this

    00110100 00110011 00100000 00110100 00111001 00100000 00110100 00110011 00100000 00110100 00110001 00100000 00110100 00110100 00100000 00110100 00110001 00100000 00110010 00110000 00100000 00110011 00110011 00100000 00110011 00110011 00100000 00110011 00110000 00100000 00110011 00110001
  33. pairofstrings

    What should be the rules to write excellent code?

    Hi. I know few rules that lets me write great code: 1. "don't pollute the global namespace" when I sit down to write JavaScript code. 2. SOLID 3. KISS 4. Liskov's Open-Closed principle Can someone help me complete the list of such rules? Thanks! Have a great day!
  34. O

    Recommended physics engine?

    Hello! I'm trying to write a 2D program that uses simple physics. I was wondering what would be the best 2D physics engine to use in my case, and if it even matter what engine I choose. I also want my simulation to run in real time, so at least 30 fps on a decent home computer. I prefer a fast...
  35. J

    Magnetostatics experiment flowchart - How can I improve this

    Homework Statement I'm attempting to write a FORTRAN program that calcuates the magnetic field, B, at any point outside of a bar magnet. I will be using a simple first order euler scheme for numerical surface integration. Homework Equations Here is the exact method I will be using...
  36. JTC

    What is Artificial Intelligence?

    Please bear with me... In a curriculum in mechanical engineering, there is a set of standard topics: statics, dynamics, vibrations, fluid mechanics, thermondynamics, etc. What is Artificial Intelligence, and what does it entail? (at the moment, it seems like a buzz phrase that does not...
    • JTC
    • Thread
    • artificial intelligence errors learning programming
    • Replies: 10
    • Forum: General Engineering
  37. D

    Basic PIC programming

    Good day to you all, I'm starting to get interested in making a project which involves using PICs but since I am a newbie at this I want to start by making a PIC blink LEDs like in christmas lights. But upon looking it up on the net I was bombarded with multiple options for "basic PIC...
  38. Hi Im Paul

    Python What's wrong with my bisection method code?

    Hello, I am assigned to write a code using bisection method (aka binary search method) The equation is 10sin(x) - x^3 - N where N = 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 My code is from math import sin def neg(a, b): return a*b> 0 def bisectx(funcx, lowx, highx,n): assert not neg(funcx(lowx,n), funcx(highx,n))...
  39. D

    Comp Sci Working with classes and vectors in C++

    Homework Statement Write a BinaryTree Class using these specifications: A Class Node represents a standard node of the tree with fields and a constructor like given below: int start, end; const Complex* value; //I will provide more information about Complex later because that was the...
  40. fluidistic

    Which programming language would you want to teach to a very young person (5-7 y/o)

    Which programming language would you like being taught if you were a very young person (5 to 7 years old), as a first programming language? Worded differently, which programming language would you like to teach to your son/daughter if he/she was that age? I've heard about Scratch and Logo. Then...
  41. D

    Comp Sci Using a custom constructor in a C++ class

    Homework Statement I am quite new to C++. I have completed my C course and am now taking a C++ course at my college. The first problem i encountered is with classes and custom made constructors. In the first part of the problem I am supposed to create a class with a field which is a dynamic...
  42. S

    I Linear Program:Multiple Optima for multivariable Obj. Func.?

    I know there can be an infinite number of solutions when the objective function with 2 variables has an equal slope as a constraint's slope (assuming the constraint is affecting the feasible region and not a redundant constraint). How can you know there are multiple optimal solutions for...
  43. C

    Comp Sci C++ program, fork gymnastics

    This is what I did but I'm getting an infinite loop of the reversed string whenever I run the program. I don't know why #include <stdio.h> #include <stdlib.h> #include <string.h> #include <unistd.h> /* for fork() and getpid() */ #include <sys/types.h> #include <iostream> using namespace std...
  44. Aaron M

    Thinking about getting an MSc in CS

    Hello all, I have recently graduated with a BSc in physics and have been accepted into the MSc program for Applied Physics. However, due to the job outlook for the position I actually want to do I am deeply interested in pursuing my second interest, which is, AI. Question: My main question is...
    • Aaron M
    • Thread
    • artificial inteligence master degree programming quantum quantum and general physics
    • Replies: 6
    • Forum: STEM Career Guidance
  45. C

    C/++/# Salami memory allocator in C

    Salami Allocator In this warm-up submission you will write a totally trivial allocator: The function init allocator() reserves a given portion of memory for the allocator. Every call to my_malloc() cuts off the requested amount of memory from the remainder of the reserved memory. The call to...
  46. P

    I How common is automation in Astronomy?

    I am currently an undergraduate researching Supernovae. We are doing some luminosity calculations using CIAO and HEASOFT which take anywhere between 7 to 13 hours for each remnant. To make the process quicker, I wrote a script that reduces that time to about 40 minutes for each remnant. One of...
  47. ramzerimar

    Engineering MechE working with software?

    I'm at the third year of my MechE course, and in those three years I've developed a keen interest in software/coding. I still like my degree, things like fluid dynamics/aerodynamics fascinate me, but more and more I see myself working with software and coding. One of the things that I like about...
  48. A

    Programmes to learn for Nuclear Engineering Masters

    I am about to begin an MSc in Nuclear Engineering. I am competent in MatLab language but wish to practice/learn another in the time before my course starts. Would I be well served in continuing to practice MatLab or to learn another from scratch (C/Java/Labview)? Are there any particular areas...
    • Adam Woolsey
    • Thread
    • masters degree matlab nuclear programming
    • Replies: 3
    • Forum: Nuclear Engineering
  49. M

    I Computer friendly list of bodies in the asteroid belt?

    Is there a computer friendly list with the known bodies in the Solar System astroid belt, that contains their physical properties, position and velocities?
  50. M

    I Solar system simulation errors

    Hi, as a side project I am making a solar system simulator in Python, but I am getting extreme inaccuracies. As the image shows - I am comparing the simulation to data obtained from NASA's Horizon. I have written a a basic Verlet integrator in the Python class posten below: import numpy as...
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