Which beginners guide to using a computer

They are the backbone of reactive programs. Conditional statements, like if , allow programmers to create a single reactive program that completes different steps based on the circumstances. Conditional statements are key to clean, compact, and useful coding solutions. To help spot branching points, try explaining your program out loud. The most common conditional statement is the if statement. This statement first checks for a specified condition.

If the condition is true, the instructions within the statement are completed. If the statement is not true, then the instructions within the statement are skipped. We use if statements often in everyday life. If the condition is not true, I take no action and remain inside. On line 8, the program will check if Circle1 has a greater circumference than Circle2. If yes, the program runs the Output: Circle1 instruction within.

If not, the program moves to the next if statement on line 11 that checks if Circle2 has a greater circumference than Circle1. If yes, the program outputs the name of Circle2 with the instruction on line Another common advanced behavior in programming is repetition. Many programs have to repeat the same step on different objects. The loop first checks to see if the end condition is met. If it is not, the program runs the set of instructions. The loop then checks the condition again to see if it has to run through another iteration.

Once the end condition is reached, the loop exits and moves on to the code below the loop. Programmers use loops to reduce repeated code. They also reorient the code to be goal focused, like changing a condition, rather than focusing on how we get there. Advanced programmers are always looking for instances of repeat code that they can simplify with loops.

The most common loop is the while loop. The end condition in a while loop is the point when the listed condition becomes untrue. Scalability is the main advantage of using while loops.

This refers to how easily your code can be adapted to handle more input. Other loops require the programmer to set the number of iterations. If more iterations are needed for a certain data set, the programmer must manually change how many iterations are completed. The while loop solves this by running until a condition is met, rather than a specific number of iterations. The condition will become false once the kitchen is fully clean, and the loop will be finished.

The goal of that section is to calculate the circumference of each circle until all circumferences have been found. The program will first check if any circumference is unknown on line 5. If that is true, and there is at least one unknown circumference, the program will enter the loop.

The program then runs the instruction within the loop on line 6 to find the circumference of the next circle, Circle1. The loop will then check the condition again and find there is still an unknown circumference. The program then enters the loop again and calculates the circumference of Circle2. On the third check, the program no longer has any unknown circumferences. The program then bypasses the loop and proceeds to our conditional statements below.

Our solution here is scalable, meaning that it can solve our problem regardless of how many circles are input at the beginning. Scalability is a best practice in programming, as it allows your program to be used in multiple situations without being altered. This course has everything you need before jumping into a specific language. Join a community of , monthly readers.

A free, bi-monthly email with a roundup of Educative's top articles and coding tips. All rights reserved. Absolute beginner's guide to computers and programming. Sep 11, - 16 min read. How to think like a programmer How to add reactivity How to simplify your programs What to learn next. Start your programming journey the easy way Learn the basics of computers, binary, and programmer problem-solving.

Anatomy of a Computer Computers are capable of anything from performing just basic calculations to running complex, dynamic software. You have probably interacted with each of these things without even knowing it! Memory Memory is where the computer stores data.

Relative Speed of Each Memory Type. Software Hardware refers to tangible components of a computer that are physically connected to it. What is a program? A mouse usually has two buttons, which are referred to as the left button and the right button. You will often interact with the computer by moving the mouse pointer over something on the computer screen, then clicking one of the buttons. On laptops, you can use the trackpad , located below the keyboard, instead of a mouse.

Simply drag your finger across the trackpad to move the pointer on the screen. Some trackpads do not have buttons, so you'll either press or tap the trackpad to click. The keyboard allows you to type letters, numbers, and words into the computer. Whenever you see a flashing vertical line—called the cursor —you can start typing. Note that the mouse pointer is also called a cursor , but it is shaped differently.

The keyboard cursor is also called the insertion point. The main screen you'll start from is the desktop. This is sort of like a main menu or a table of contents. From here, you can access the programs and features you need to use your computer.

Icons are used to represent the different files, applications, and commands on your computer. An icon is a small image that's intended to give you an idea at a glance of what it represents, like a logo.

Double-clicking an icon on the desktop will open that application or file. With funded membership opportunities currently available, now is the perfect time for organisations to join our Digital Champions Network. Copyright Digital Unite. Our clients News and views Guides Get in touch. Computers are there to enhance your life.

Think: what would I like to do better, do easier or do more of in my life? Then ask someone for advice on how a computer can help you achieve that goal. Try to be selective about who you listen to. Those who are negative about computers may be scared themselves or maybe the digital world is just not for them. Everyone comes to computers with a different background and experience, and everyone learns to use them at a different pace. Set yourself small, realistic goals.

Better to be able to find one useful website or send one short email than to end up with a head full of instructions and no results. If you start dreaming about mice, and email, and keyboards, you probably need to take a break!