Prof. Giselle

Why did we move from punch cards to programming languages? What does that tell you aobut the purpose of programming languages?

Punch cards were inefficient to write, transport, and read, and can be easily damaged or compromised. Programming language should allow humans to easily give commands to computers.
There are hundreds of different programming languages out there. Why do you think we need so many?

Different programming languages are suitble for different purposes.
What are some drawbacks of a programming language you use? How would you like it to be different? Think of specific examples.

Python takes so much memory and is highly inefficient. I wish it could be as fast as C++ or even assembly.
If you were going to create a new programming language, how would you start? What do you need to define?

Decide on the category, decide on its application purposes, design the syntax, etc.

Different programming languages serve different purposes
- 100 doors problem: Python, C, SML works similarly
- List permutation: Imperative approach of Python and Java, and Declarative approach of SML and Prolog
Programming languages appeared in CMUQ
- Python: 15-110 15-112
- SML: 15-150 15-210
- C: 15-122 15-213 15-348
- Java: 15-440
- Prolog: 15-317
- Design of programming language (in general): 15-312
How to become a fluent programmer? Practice. Practice sites: UVa, beecrowd, TopCoder, SPOJ, Project Euler, Rosetta Code, Codeforces, Google HashCode C++ is for competitive programming
Overall takeaway: Prof. Giselle is the associate area head and our future advisor. Chat with her. Independent of the programming language, the biggest asset we have is our brain! Take care of it :)

Questions for Professor Giselle's Lecture