Beginning Programming For Dummies^® , 2nd Edition

by Wallace Wang

• ISBN13: 9780764508356
• ISBN10: 0764508350
• Edition: CD
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-03-01
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

Despite popular belief, anyone can learn to program a computer. Computer programming doesn2t require a high IQ and an innate proficiency in advanced mathematics. All that2s required is a desire to learn and the patience to never give up. If you2ve ever dreamed of writing your own programs, rest assured that you can. Programming can be a lot of fun, but it can also be frustrating, annoying, and time-consuming. And that2s why you need Beginning Programming For Dummies, 2nd Edition - to help you discover how to program a computer with the minimum amount of inconvenience and the maximum amount of enjoyment. Now, enjoyment can go only so far. In fact, not many people program just for the fun of it; usually, they want to create a program to do something unique to their lives, or perhaps they2d like to make a little cash on the side by selling their programs as shareware. If you2ve always wondered how you could do what so many others have done, all you have to do is plug into Beginning Programming For Dummies, 2nd Edition, to find out how. Here2s just a sample of the topics you2ll find covered: Deciphering the mystery of the various programming languages Assembling and working with programming tools Getting inside a programming language: Liberty BASIC Programming basics: From variables, constants, and comments to strings, control statements, and loops Creating user interfaces for your programs Dealing with data structures Playing with object-oriented programming Debugging and optimizing your code Top Ten lists on the top programming careers and additional resources So no matter what operating system platform you use - whether it2s Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Palm OS, or Pocket PC - Beginning Programming For Dummies, 2nd Edition, can walk you through the basics of programming and get you well on your way to becoming a programming wizard!

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(6)
Part I: Programming a Computer	7	(54)
Learning Computer Programming for the First Time	9	(10)
All About Programming Languages	19	(16)
How To Write a Program	35	(14)
The Tools of a Computer Programmer	49	(12)
Part II: Learning Programming with Liberty Basic	61	(76)
Getting Your Hands on a Real Language: Liberty BASIC	63	(10)
Handling Input and Output	73	(8)
Variables, Constants, and Comments	81	(14)
Crunching Numbers and Playing with Strings	95	(16)
Making Decisions with Control Statements	111	(18)
Repeating Yourself with Loops	129	(8)
Part III: Advanced Programming with Liberty BASIC	137	(78)
Writing Large Programs by Using Subprograms	139	(16)
Drawing Pictures and Making Noise	155	(14)
Saving and Retrieving Stuff in Files	169	(14)
Creating a User Interface	183	(24)
Debugging Programs	207	(8)
Part IV: Dealing with Data Structures	215	(44)
Storing Stuff in Arrays	217	(10)
Lumping Related Data in Records	227	(6)
Linked Lists and Pointers	233	(14)
Playing with Object-Oriented Programming	247	(12)
Part V: Algorithms: Telling the Computer What to Do	259	(40)
Sorting	261	(16)
Searching	277	(12)
Optimizing Your Code	289	(10)
Part VI: Internet Programming	299	(48)
Playing with HTML	301	(26)
Making Interactive Web Pages with JavaScript	327	(12)
Using Java Applets on Web Pages	339	(8)
Programming in Python on the CD
Part VII: The Part of Tens	347	(28)
Ten Cool Programming Careers	349	(10)
Ten Additional Programming Resources	359	(16)
Appendix: About the CD	375	(8)
Index	383	(18)
Hungry Minds End-User License Agreement	401	(2)
GNU License Agreement	403	(5)
Installation Instructions	408