An overview of.. computing!!
Since ancient times, we have had numbers, measurements..
Then came instruments, equations.
WHAT to represent, HOW to represent, HOW to compute/process?
[data processing]
ReviewWhat we learned, what to study.. |
We have reached the end of our fast-paced, two-language intro+overview :)
What did we learn, how to place it all in a bigger context?
Since ancient times, we have had numbers, measurements..
Then came instruments, equations.
WHAT to represent, HOW to represent, HOW to compute/process?
[data processing]
Regardless of machine, OS, language etc., if some piece of DATA can be REPRESENTED, it can be PROCESSED - to provide insights, financial gain, enjoyment, social interaction.. ANYTHING!
Data goes in vars/objects, processing happens via the code we write to manipulate data.
Through this lens of "DATA => PROCESSING => BENEFIT", let us analyze a WIDE spectrum of human activity..
We can represent numerous things as (digital) data:
Once we are able to sense/measure real-world data, we can process it, and actuate, even control things/processes.
In no particular order, here is a variety of things we can do with data+processing:
IN RETROSPECT, WE HAVE SYSTEMATICALLY BEEN "DIGITIZING' (representing as DATA, and doing PROCESSING on) **EVERYTHING**!!!!! And SOFTWARE is what is at the heart of it all :)
All this DATA requires SPACE, and PROCESSING requires POWER. We have infrastructure for this too - "the cloud" :)
So again, it is software ('coding') that enables all this - without it, we'd simply have gazillion exabytes of 1s and 0s.
So, for the exam - what to prepare, HOW to prepare?
The idea is to get very comfortable with the PROCESS of coding.
It will be a 100% coding-only exam (questions from both C++ and Java) - no paragraphs to write, diagrams to draw, algorithms to memorize, T/F or multiple choice questions, etc.
Do focus on the 'object' part of things - subclassing, implementing, constructing, etc.
No need to worry about exceptions, object cloning and similar topics that we only mentioned in passing.
GOOD LUCK, hope you do well!
To get really good at coding [like with anything else] - you need to practice, practice, practice!
Specifically, I recommend that you use 2D and 3D computer graphics formats (.ppm, .stl, .wrl, aframe...) and music (.mid) to keep coding enjoyable. In other words, you'd code, to create data:
In other words - games, animations, 3D-printables, music synth etc are all good 'vehicles' (as are microcontrollers, to interface with TRL), to continue coding, continue enjoying it. More generally, all these, in combinations or by themselves, will help [some of these are mentioned above as well]:
HAVE FUN, good luck!