C++ Programming Language
Lecture 1

Introduction
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Computer Engineering
Department
(Adapted from the textbook slides)


Outline
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Introduction.
C++ overview.
Computer organization and hardware
trends.
Evolution of operating systems and
types of computing.
Programming languages.
Basics of a typical C++ environment.
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Introduction
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In this course you will learn C++ and
the legacy C code.
It is your first step in the software
programming world.
It will provide you with the needed
tools and background to learn objectoriented programming.
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What is C++?
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A powerful programming language
that enables you to write instructions
(i.e. software) to drive the hardware of
the computer (i.e. to perform actions
and take decisions).

But first, what is computers? What is
hardware? And what is software?
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What is a Computer?
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Computer
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Computer programs
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A device capable of performing computations and
making logical decisions in a very fast manner.
Sets of instructions that control a computer’s processing
of data

Hardware
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Various devices comprising a computer
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Examples: keyboard, screen, mouse, disks, memory, CDROM, and processing units

Software
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Programs that run a computer
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Computer Organization
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Six logical units in every computer:
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Input unit
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Output unit
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Performs arithmetic calculations and logical decisions.

Central processing unit (CPU)
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Rapid access, low capacity, stores input information and programs
while they are being executed (active programs and data).

Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU)
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Outputs information (to screen, to printer, to control other devices)

Memory unit
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Obtains information from input devices (keyboard, mouse).

Supervises and coordinates the other sections of the computer
(called the heart of the computer).

Secondary storage unit
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Cheap, long-term, high-capacity storage, stores inactive programs.

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Computer Organization
Example

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Hardware Trends
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Every year or two computers
approximately double the following:
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The amount of memory they contain
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The amount of secondary storage they contain
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Secondary storage (such as disk storage) is used to
hold programs and data over time

Their processor speeds
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Memory used to execute programs

The speed at which computers execute their programs

This development is accompanied with a
decrease in prices and computers cost.
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Evolution of Operating
Systems
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Operating system (OS) is the intermediary software that lies between
the hardware and the computer applications where it enables the
interfacing between the user and the computer hardware.
Operating systems development:
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Batch processing
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Do only one job or task or program at a time while processing
data in groups or batches.
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Operating systems
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Manage transitions between jobs.
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Increased throughput : Amount of work computers process.
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Still batch processing (one task at a time)
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Multiprogramming
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Many jobs or tasks sharing a computer’s resources in the same
time.
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Timesharing
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Special case of multiprogramming.
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Access computer resources via terminals.
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Perform a small portion of one user’s job then moves on to
service the next user
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Types of Computing
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Personal computers
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Distributed computing
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Economical enough for individual
Organizations computing is distributed over
networks

Client/server computing
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Sharing of information across computer networks
between servers (such as file servers, email
servers, etc.) and clients (personal computers
connected to the network)
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Programming Languages I
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Three types of programming languages
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Machine languages
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Strings of numbers giving machine specific instructions.
Computers can only understand this language.
Example:
10100011001001
11111111111111
00000001110100

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Machine dependent: every machine has its own

language.
Hard to be understood by humans.
Hard to be used in programming.
Too slow and tedious.
Error prone.
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Programming Languages II
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Assembly languages
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English-like abbreviations representing elementary
computer operations so it is easier to be understood
by humans.
Translated or converted into machine language via
assemblers.
Also, it is slow and hard to be used in programming.
Machine dependent.
Example:

LOAD BASEPAY
ADD OVERPAY
STORE GROSSPAY
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Programming Languages
III
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High-level languages
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Similar to everyday English, use mathematical notations.
Translated into machine language via compilers (compile
the whole program at once).
Interpreters are used to execute high level languages
without need to compile them into machine language
and it execute single line at a time.
Compiled programs are faster than the interpreted ones.

Fast and easy for programming.
Machine independent.
Example:
grossPay = basePay + overTimePay
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Programming Languages
IV
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It is common to classify the
computer programming languages
into two types:
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Low level programming languages which includes both
the machine and assembly languages.

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High level languages as in the previous slide.

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Example of High-level
Languages
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Other high-level languages
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C and C++.
Java
Visual basic 6/.Net
C#.Net
FORTRAN
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COBOL
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Used in scientific and engineering applications
Used to manipulate large amounts of data

Pascal
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Used to teach structured programming
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History of C and C++
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C++ developed from C
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ANSI C: standard of C and C++
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C developed from two other programming languages:
BCPL (Basic Compiled programming Language) and B
which are used mainly to develop operating systems and
compilers.
ANSI (American National Standard Institution ) has
cooperated with ISO (International Organization for
Standardization) to established worldwide standards for C
and C++ programming to make C++ programs portable.

C99 is the latest ANSI standard of C/C++

C++ “spruces up” C
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Provides capabilities for object-oriented programming
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Objects are reusable software components that model things
in the real world
Object-oriented programs are easy to understand, correct and
modify
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C++ Standard Library
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C++ programs
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Built from pieces called classes and functions.

C++ standard library
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Provides rich collections of existing classes and
functions for all programmers to use.

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Basics of a Typical C++
Environment
Editor

Preprocessor

Phases of C++ Programs:
1.
2.

Edit (create .h and .cpp files):
create the source code or file
Preprocess (text replacement,
include other files)

Compiler

Linker

Loader


3.

Compile: creates the object code

4.

Link: creates the executable file

5.

Load

6.

Execute

Disk

Program is created in
the editor and stored
on disk.

Disk

Preprocessor program
processes the code.

Disk

Compiler creates

object code and stores
it on disk.

Disk

Linker links the object
code with the libraries,
creates a.exe and
stores it on disk

Primary
Memory

Loader puts program
in memory.

Disk

..
..
..

Primary
Memory

CPU

 

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..
..
..

CPU takes each
instruction and
executes it, possibly
storing new data
values as the program
executes.

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Additional Notes
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Check the Black Board to get your
copy of the lecture.
The lecture covers the following
sections from the textbook:
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Fourth edition:
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Chapter 1: Sections 1.1 – 1.8, 1.14, 1.15


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