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assembly language : low-level language in which every statement corresponds directly to a machine instruction
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
BASIC : early high-level programming language
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
binary code : program in the native format that is understood by a CPU, which is a long series of 0s and 1s
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
C : middle-level language that has been in wide use since the 1970s
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
C++ : middle-level object-oriented language based upon C
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
central processing unit (CPU) : computer chip capable of executing machine code programs
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
child thread : thread that is started by the parent thread, and only runs for a limited period in a parallel section
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
Church-Turing Thesis : scientific theory stating that an algorithm can be converted from any reasonable computational model to another
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
Clang : open-source C compiler developed by the LLVM project
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
code relocation : merges separate code and data sections into single sections (one for code and one for data)
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
compiler : (also:interpreter) program that translates source code from a middle-level or high-level language into something a computer can read
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
computational model : system for defining what an algorithm does and how to run it
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
concurrent programming : situation where multiple programs or tasks are running at the same time, regardless of whether they are using multiple processors or sharing one processor
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
core : individual processor built into a CPU chip
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
declarative programming : paradigm in which code dictates a desired outcome without specifying how that outcome is achieved
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
device driver : piece of code that is responsible for connecting to a hardware component such as a video card or keyboard
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
distributed computing : specific form of parallel programming where processors are working together in parallel, but the processors are in multiple connected computers, not a single computer
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
executable and linkable format (ELF) : standard binary format for object code
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
external reference : symbol that is used in a module, but not defined in that module, so is expected to be defined in some other module
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
firmware : very low-level code that communicates directly with hardware, providing a convenient interface for other software
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
freed memory : memory that is given back to be reused when a value is no longer needed
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
functional programming : paradigm in which algorithms are written as mathematical functions
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
GCC : open-source C compiler developed by the GNU Project
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
Git : widely-used version control system
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
GitHub : website that allows free storage of public git repositories
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
GOTO : non-structured operation that instructs a computer to jump to an entirely different part of the program
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
graphics processing unit (GPU) : massively-parallel processor that supplements a CPU; GPUs were originally designed for rendering real-time graphics in video games
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
hardware model : design for a how a specific physical computer executes algorithms
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
high-level programming language : programming language that operates at a high level of abstraction, meaning that low-level details such as the management of memory are automated
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
imperative programming : paradigm in which the programmer writes a series of steps that must be followed in order
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
instruction set architecture (ISA) : type of hardware model that defines a list of operations that a CPU can execute
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
integrated development environment (IDE) : program with a graphical user interface that includes a text editor, compiler, and other tools, all in one application
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
interpreter : (also:compiler) program that translates source code from a middle-level or high-level language into something a computer can read
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
invalid pointer : pointer that does not hold a valid location
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
kernel : core part of an operating system that is responsible for managing and interfacing with hardware components
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
Lambda calculus : abstract computational model defined by Alonzo Church that inspired the functional programming paradigm
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
level of abstraction : degree to which a computational model, programming language, or piece of software relates to computer hardware
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
library : file that contains object code for functions and global variables that are intended to be reused
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
linker : program that performs linking
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
linking : process of collecting and combining various pieces of object code into a single program file that can be loaded into memory and executed
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
Linux : open-source operating system kernel that is Unix-compatible
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
load time linking : when dynamic linking happens at the same time a program executable is first run
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
low-level programming language : programming language that operates at a low level of abstraction, meaning that code is similar to machine code
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
machine code : sequence of binary digits (bits) that can be understood and executed directly by a computer
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
memory leak : occurs when some memory is allocated but never freed
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
memory management : process of allocating and freeing memory
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
message passing : parallel programming approach where separate processes communicate only by sending messages, not sharing memory
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
Message Passing Interface (MPI) : message-passing interface that was first developed in the 1990s
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
middle-level programming language : programming language that is somewhat abstracted above low-level, but not as much as a high-level programming language; allows direct hardware access
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
modularity : property of code that allows it to be divided into a small, reusable piece
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
multicore : CPU chip that contains more than one core
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
object : a program value that has both data, or variables, and procedures that work together to represent a specific human concept
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
object-oriented programming : paradigm in which code is organized into objects, where each object has both data and procedures
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
OpenMP : library for parallel programming in the SMP model
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
operating system : software that provides a platform for applications and manages hardware components
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
operator : fundamental programming operation that combines values
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
parallel computer : multiple-processor system that supports parallel programming
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
parallel computing : practice of making productive use of parallel computers
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
parallel programming : computer programming technique that provides for executing code in parallel on multiple processors
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
parent thread : thread that runs from the program beginning through the end, and starts and manages child threads
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
pointer : variable that holds the memory address of another variable and points to that variable
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
procedural programming : paradigm in which code is organized into procedures
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
procedure : function in the context of programming
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
programming language paradigm : philosophy and approach for organizing code
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
programming model : design for humans to read and write
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
Random Access Machine : abstract computational model used to analyze the efficiency of algorithms
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
repository : container for files and related information stored in a version control tool
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
runtime linking : when linking occurs after a program has already started running
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
Rust : a relatively new middle-level programming language created by the Mozilla Foundation in the 2010s
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
segmentation fault : occurs if the subscript is very far out of range
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
semantic error : when code compiles and runs, but does not behave as it should
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
shared library : library file that can be shared by multiple programs at the same time
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
shared memory : programming model in which processes/tasks share a common address space, which they read and write to asynchronously
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
socket : Internet connection between two computers
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
source code : text of a program written in a programming language
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
static library : simple kind of library that that copies the contents of object files into a single file called an “archive”
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
structured programming : paradigm in which control flow is always controlled with conditionals (“if”) or loops (“while”) and never GOTO
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
symbol : identifier for a function or global variable
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
symbol resolution : during the symbol resolution step, the linker associates each symbol reference with exactly one symbol definition
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
symbol table : array of structures in which each entry includes name, size, and location of symbol
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) : model in which there are multiple parallel processors that are practically identical
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
systems software : programs that provide infrastructure and platforms that other programs rely upon
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
thread : light-weight parallel execution path that shares memory with other threads
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
Unix : operating system that has been used widely, primarily in servers and software development since the 1970s
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version control : tools that are used to store and improve multiple versions of project files and support team collaboration, and the ability to revert to an earlier versions
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
Visual C++ : proprietary-license C and C++ compiler developed by Microsoft
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-key-terms
A computational model defines what an algorithm or program does. There are hardware models, programming language models, and abstract models.
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-summary
Low-level programming means writing machine code that can be understood by a CPU directly, or something very near to that. It is laborious but yields very fast code.
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-summary
Middle-level programming is a compromise that is reasonably efficient and more convenient than low-level programming.
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-summary
High-level programming is more abstract and intuitive for humans. It is less labor-intensive, but high-level code can be slower than low-level code.
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-summary
Programming language paradigms are approaches for organizing source code.
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-summary
In the imperative paradigm, code orders the CPU to execute specific actions.
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-summary
In the declarative paradigm, the programmer declares the outcome that they need.
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-summary
In the functional paradigm, the programmer defines mathematical functions to evaluate.
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-summary
In structured programming, the flow of execution is specified with explicit syntax elements (“if-then-else,” “for” loop, “while” loop) and never GOTO.
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-summary
In procedural programming, a program is divided into procedures. Each procedure performs one specific task and has a descriptive name.
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-summary
In object-oriented programming, the basic building block is an object. An object combines data and procedures that together represent a human concept.
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-summary
The Cprogramming languageis the most prominent example of a low-level language. Programs written in C typically execute as fast as assembly language and allow programmers to directly manipulate machine features such as memory via the use of pointers.
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-summary
The C programming language is used by most of the system software we depend on today (e.g., operating systems, compilers, interpreters, and device drivers) because of its efficient execution, portability, and modularity.
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-summary
The C data model supports the creation of a variety of basic types including integers and floating point numbers, as well as pointers. C also provides type constructors used to create collections using thearray,struct, andunionkeywords.
https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/4-summary