Programing

Jacob,

   Programming a computer is a lot like writing down a cooking recipe,

except that the computer will follow the instructions rather than a cook,

so the instructions have to be very precise.  The computer can't ever stop

to ask you what you intended.  But as a consolation, it can follow the

instructions very quickly.

   The instructions a computer can carry out are a lot like what a person with

a pencil and paper can carry out.  They involve arithmetic (add, subtract,

multiply, divide, etc), comparisons (equal, less, greater), and logical

operations (and,or,not).

  The instructions involve "variables", like in algebra, that can have a value.

   The instructions are performed (executed) sequentially, one after another. 

Sometimes the instructions are "conditional", as in  If the variable x is greater

than 100 then do one thing, otherwise do another thing.

   You can write "loops", where certain instructions can be performed repeatedly,

just like a recipe where you might repeatedly test a cake with a toothpick to

see if it is ready to come out of the oven.  If your program has no loops, it

will finish in the blink of an eye.

   Now you know the basics.  You will need to find a book, tutorial, video, class,

or friend, etc.,  to help with the rest of the details.

Jacob,

   Programming a computer is a lot like writing down a cooking recipe,

except that the computer will follow the instructions rather than a cook,

so the instructions have to be very precise.  The computer can't ever stop

to ask you what you intended.  But as a consolation, it can follow the

instructions very quickly.

   The instructions a computer can carry out are a lot like what a person with

a pencil and paper can carry out.  They involve arithmetic (add, subtract,

multiply, divide, etc), comparisons (equal, less, greater), and logical

operations (and,or,not).

  The instructions involve "variables", like in algebra, that can have a value.

   The instructions are performed (executed) sequentially, one after another. 

Sometimes the instructions are "conditional", as in  If the variable x is greater

than 100 then do one thing, otherwise do another thing.

   You can write "loops", where certain instructions can be performed repeatedly,

just like a recipe where you might repeatedly test a cake with a toothpick to

see if it is ready to come out of the oven.  If your program has no loops, it

will finish in the blink of an eye.

   Now you know the basics.  You will need to find a book, tutorial, video, class,

or friend, etc.,  to help with the rest of the details.