1. Computational Thinking
Programming is communication that sends commands to be performed to the computer. In order to define the “command to be performed,” the resolution task (problem/requirements) must be clearly understood, the complexity must be simply desconstructed, the data organized and sorted by modeling, and the actions arranged in sequence.
In other words, clear understanding of reguirements and proper definitaion of solution are needed before programming. What is required at this time is the problem-solving skill. Some people tend to equate problem-solving abilities with algorithms, but it does not. Of course studying algorithm is very helpful to get problem-solving skill, but problem-solving skill is more higher level of ability.
Programming is just a means of expression to produce the final result of solving a problem. Programming itself doesn’t solve the problem. Considering the solution of the problem, you should look at preoblem from a computer’s point of view. Computational thinking is required this kind of time. You should do computational thinking with solving problems.
This requires logical and mathematical thinking, and all concepts that will be used within the programming should be defined as assessable, breaking down and patterning the resolution tasks into smaller units.
2. Programming Language
As above, solution defined based on problem-solving skill should be communicated to computer. At this point, computer do perform the commands. So the command should be communicated by machine code, not a natural language. But it is very difficult that human to understand machine code. It is even described in bits.
The most useful alternative to delivering commands in direct mechanical language is to use a kind of translator to write a program using “programming language” consisting of promised phrases (Syntax) that humans can understand and then convert it into machine language that computers can understand. This kind of translator is called complier or interpreter.
Programming is a kind of communication that sends commands to the computer that you want to perform using the programming language. The programming language is expressed as a combination of Syntax and Semantics.
3. Syntax & Semantics
Understanding both syntax and semantics properly is important to use language well. In the end, solutions created through problem-solving ability are expressed through the syntax of programming languages. The code is a specific implementation of the solution. This is only archeive semantics when the requirements are fulfilled(problem solved).
Most of programming languages provide syntax such as variables and values, keywords, operators, expressions, flow control by conditional and loop statements, statements, functions(set of statements), and data structures such as objects and arrays.
What a programmer needs to do is find a solution for problem and implement it in a code that has correct syntax. Implemented code should act as expected and solve the problem. It should be predictable and explainable how the code work inside the computer and what it will give back.
To do this, it is important to have an accurate understanding of the basic concepts and operating principles of programming language. If you just copy & paste code without understand basic concept and principle, that code is not reliable. And problem-solving skills will not grow anymore.
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