What is meant by Programming, programming language and why is it to learn?
Today’s era is the period of technologies; we all are encircled by different technologies. We have introduced many gadgets and electronics devices to make life cozy and comfortable. The computer was one of the greatest inventions of all. We humans never get satisfied with what we have invented and got. So, after introducing various electronics devices we move forward in search of more comfortness. Then we have started programming the machines.
After seeing the word programming, the first thing that comes in our mind is bunches of code or different programming languages such as C, C++, java, python, etc. But you might be wrong, programming doesn’t only mean lines of code.
Then, what exactly the programming is? Why we need it?
Programming is simply the process of writing a set of instructions to perform a task or in a simple language, programming is the process of writing programs. Also, it is a set of instructions to solve specific problems.
To understand more clearly, let’s move forward with a short story. There was a chef in a restaurant that used to organize delicious dishes. People used to come from all over the world to taste his dishes. Customers weren’t satisfied with the taste of the dishes if the chef was out for a day. The customers were flocking to the restaurant due to the chef’s skill rather than the restaurant. Above all, the exodus in the restaurant is only by the dint of the fellow chef. Nevertheless, this was not good news for the restaurant owner. If the chef left the job or hired by other restaurants then the restaurant goanna suffer. This was not only the problem, he even couldn’t open numerous branches. So, the owner needed to hold the chef or else needed to find the solution. So, he hired other chefs but couldn’t replicate the taste of the dishes. He tried various ways but he failed. After several attempts, the boss finally discovered that the taste of the food was not due to the chef but due to his cooking process. So, he requested the chef to write down the recipe for each dish. Then he ordered other chefs to follow his recipes to prepare dishes. Other chefs were not able to reach 100% of the original taste; they could only reach 95% of the original. The differences were indistinguishable to the customers. In this way, as long as the recipe was there, the quality of the restaurant’s dishes can be guaranteed, and expansion of branches will not be a delinquent.
We know, ‘program’ is a set of instructions or a logical flow, designed to meet requirements, and ‘programming’ is the process of writing programs Here, in the story, the chef’s recipes is a program and writing cooking process into a recipe is essentially programming. Programming not only means writing lines of code but it is the technique used to solve the problems. To make more clear, let’s take another example; in schools or colleges, we normally follow some specific schedules. That schedule is the program and the process involved in making the schedule is the programming.
After getting a perception of the term programming, let’s come to the point why we need to program the computer or any other electronic devices. In this article, we mainly focus on programming the computer.
Computer or any other electronic device which were introduced doesn’t have its own intelligence or simply dumb. If we want them to function on our way or need control over the machine, we need to program them. Programming has given life to electronic devices. Anything you do on a computer is driven by code, from moving the mouse to watching videos to playing video games. Simply, if we want the computer to add two numbers, then at first we need to program the computer. It’s not easy to program the computer since it doesn’t understand any human language. The computer only understands 0s and 1s i.e. the binary numbers. So, if we have to command the computer then we have to feed in the form of 0s and 1s. However, it is very inconvenient and quite difficult to write instructions in 0s and 1s.
So, here comes the role of the programming language. We humans speak certain languages to communicate with each other in the say way, we need a language to communicate with computers. The language that allows us to communicate with the computer in a language the computer understands is a programming language. There are two types of programming languages: high-level languages and low-level languages. High-level languages are human understandable languages that are closer to the English language or any other language. C, C++, Java, Python, etc. are the example of a high-level language. Previously, I said computer doesn't understand human language and now I am saying high-level languages that are human understandable languages used to instruct the computer.
You might get confused, how do we instruct computers using a high-level programming language. Now, the translator(compiler or interpreter)role comes into play. Our lines of code are translated into machine-understandable language by the translator. The process of writing codes(simply instruction) using the programming language is coding. It is the process of writing the logic and Programming is the process of building an executable program that can be used to carry out proper machine-level outputs.
We write lots of codes(instruction) in a programming language to make a program whose task is to perform some specific task. The technique we implement in making programs is programming.
Let's take a simple example to make a program to add two numbers using a programming language
let a=1, var b=2 //assigning numbers to a and b i.e. variables
var sum=a+b //adding two values and storing the result
print sum //printing the value
output: 3
Here writing all these lines of code is coding. The language in which we are writing this code is a programming language. The concept we used i.e we need two variables to store two numbers, one variable to store the result, and then use a mathematical symbol to perform the operation is programming.
Programming has the potential to have a significant impact on our personal and professional lives. Learning to program or code promotes logical thinking. It improves the functions of our thinking and imaginative skills. It is well-known fact that coding is all about solving issues. Learning programming includes coding as well as figuring out how to deal with the problems that happen while coding and finding the solutions to them. It teaches you to look at a situation in terms of possible solutions. It changes the way how we deliberate and how we look at the problems. It teaches us to see every problem like a challenge and every challenge we encounter promotes us to initiate brainstorming solutions. The positive effects of brainstorming and solving complications will give us a better mindset and strengthen up to take action on the situation, no matter how difficult it may be. We become solution-driven person as a result of our determination to find a solution. Coding teaches us to break down very complex problems into small parts. Those parts become a collection of smaller procedures. This systematic and reasoning approach to issue solving might be useful for solving challenges that aren’t related to coding. Some of the main reasons everyone should learn programming at some point in lives include:
1. Improve processes on how we think- Programming isn’t just about teaching how to write lines of code. It is more about teaching how to think differently. Being able to code effectively, a programmer needs to use logical thinking. They need to be able to see a large problem and break it down into smaller pieces in order to solve it in an effective manner. It teaches to try another approach if the first doesn’t work. If that doesn’t work, then keep trying until the issue is resolved. It improves the function of this kind of thinking, and these forms of intellectual capacity are in high demand.
2. Enhances problem-solving skills- Learning programming helps to develop an approach of how things work. It also teaches how programmers use math and calculations in order to solve problems in a logical and creative way. This is an important reason, programming should be learned by everyone. The capacity to solve challenges is a skill that is valuable in all aspects of life. If we can develop good problem-solving skills then we can overcome whatever challenges we meet.
3. Works independently- Learning computer programming can be fruitful for us to start our own business. This might include running an online store, starting our own website design company, developing mobile apps, providing online coding courses and tutoring, and many other options. The possibilities are limitless. Many programmers eventually choose to work for themselves i.e. freelancers. As a freelance, we will be able to work where you want, when you want, and how you want.
4. Create anything we want- Computer programming, more than any other profession, allows us to digitize our thoughts. This idea may be an app or website or software we wanted to make and our thoughts and imagination would go viral once we release it on the market. We can implement our ideas exactly how we want. We can make our life more easy, comfortable, and prosperous.
Programming is a skill that comes with numerous benefits. It helps in the overall development. So, if you got a chance to learn programming then don’t miss it.
If you think you are too young or too old to start learning programming then read my other post.Click Here