Discovering Computers

Chapter 12: Information Systems and Program Development

Project management software

Project management software is used to plan, schedule, track, analyze events, resources and costs of projects. Below are links to three project management software applications.

Learn to code

  • How did Bill Gates of Microsoft, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Jack Dorsey of Twitter, an NBA all-star basketball player, and everday people learn to code? What do YOU need to learn how to code? Hear their inspirational stories.
  • Computer Science Tutorials
    Write your first computer program with a drag and drop game, get an introduction to JavaScript, try 'unplugged' games with no internet, tutorial apps and more!
  • Learn to code interactively, for free.

 

Java

  • May be used on many different platforms (Windows, Linux, Mac).
  • Very useful for web applications that may be used on different platforms. 
  • It is a more complicated language than JavaScript and creates “standalone” applications.
  • Widely used object-oriented programming language. Objects are components of a program that makes it easy to reuse code. Objects can be saved to use in other programs so that you don't have to rewrite the code.

JavaScript

  • JavaScript is a scripting language that extends the functionality of existing software.
  • Not used to create stand along software applications from scratch, unlike Java.
  • Used to make web pages more interactive and dynamic. It runs in a browser only.
  • Known as an interpreted language, which means it does not need to be compiled (converted to machine language - 1s and 0s) before being executed. Makes it easy to code, test, and run very quickly.
  • .Much newer language than C and C++.
  • Open source – anyone may use, share and change.
  • Simpler set of commands and easier to learn than Java. Scripts can be “client-side” or “server-side.”   Client-side means the script runs in the browser on the end user’s machine (that’s you and me).  Server-side means the script runs on a web server to generate dynamic HTML pages that is sent to the client’s browser. 

C

  1. A procedural (third generation language) is a general purpose programming language with a long history. Procedural programming (also known as imperative programming) is a list of instructions to tell the computer what to do step by step. Relies on procedures, also known as routines or sub-routines. Uses English-like words such as ADD for addition and PRINT.
  2. Procedural languages were developed in the late 1950s. The programmer writes instructions that tell the computer what to do and how to do it. 
  3. Popular for system software, including the Windows Operating System, device drivers, and telecommunications applications.
  4. It can access the computer systems low-level functions, which means it is closer to the hardware than some other programming languages.

C++

  • C++ (pronounced C plus plus) is a higher level programming language that builds on its predecessor C by adding object-oriented features. Objects are components of a program that makes it easy to reuse code. Objects can be saved to use in other programs so that you don't have to rewrite the code.
  • C++ is both a procedural and object oriented program language.
  • Used for applications that rely heavily on GUI.

  • C is more for system software, whereas C++ for applications with dialogs and graphics.

C#

  1. C# (pronounced C sharp) is an object oriented programming language designed by Microsoft.  Objects are components of a program that makes it easy to reuse code. Objects can be saved to use in other programs so that you don't have to rewrite the code.
  2. Combines the functionality of C and C++ with Visual Basic. 
  3. Used on many operating systems (i.e. – Windows, Mac and Linux).
  4. One of the languages used the Microsoft .NET Framework. .

.NET Framework

  • The Microsoft .NET Framework is a programming infrastructure created by Microsoft.
  • Also referred to as Visual Studio .NET.
  • Used to build many applications such as desktop software applications and Web services.
  • The .NET Framework makes it possible for different programming languages to work together (C anc C++).  

  • C# was specifically developed to create code for the .NET framework.

Objective C

  • Objective C was derived by C and has been adapted by apple to develop applications for the Mac OS and iOS operating systems. 
  • Very popular for mobile phone apps. 
  • Object-oriented language. Objects are components of a program that makes it easy to reuse code. Objects can be saved to use in other programs so that you don't have to rewrite the code.
  • Will Objective C be replaced by Swift?

HTML

  • HTML is a special formatting language that programmers use to control the structure of documents for display on the Web (Cascading Style Sheets - CSS - controls the appearance of Web pages).
  • HTML 5 is the latest version of HTML and supports modern Web media.
  • HTML 5 does not have to rely on the use of plug-ins such as Flash for video, which is the trend for the future.