Quick! Can you tell me how to prepare a bowl of cereals with milk? Too simple, right? You can probably give me a series of no-brainer instructions that I can perform in less than a minute. Now try
telling a computer to do just that. What began as a simple task has now become complicated. It's not just a matter of dumping a cup of cereals in a bowl and pouring milk in. With computers, it's so much more than that. Sounds exciting? It should be. Because that's what you'll expect once you begin learning computer programming fundamentals.

The basics
Computer programming is a whole new world of possibilities. Believe it or not, programming actually began in the 1200s, when simple machines were designed to execute simple mechanical tasks. It has grown both as an art and as a science since then, providing us with the technologies that have made many aspects of our lives easier and faster.

Once you start learning computer programming, some of the basic stuff you'll encounter include:

- The basic understanding of the discipline
You'll need a good background in the field in order for you to understand how it really works. With a solid foundation built on knowing the basics of computer programming, it will be easier to comprehend its details, including procedures, steps and other instructions.

- Understanding the types of programming
Essentially, there are two basic types of programming, each of which has its own uses and set of advantages and limitations. Procedural programming, while older, is quite useful particularly because it is a much simpler way to tell a computer what to do. It is also the heart and soul of many computer languages. Basically, it's an input-output operation, where a user or programmer inputs a set of instructions and a computer reacts to it by executing those instructions. Learning procedural programming helps new programmers understand elements such as sequence, selection and iteration.

The other type of programming is object-oriented, which is relatively newer. This type of programming treats instructions as a set of objects, something that is more convenient in many of the programs that are in use today. With object-oriented programming, you'll learn an object's properties, event handlers and methods.

You'll learn both types of programming as part of a fundamental or basic course. These will help you understand how to design codes that are easy for a computer to understand and effective enough to execute. Using the cereal and milk analogy, for example, you will be able to write a code that will tell a computer how to pour the right amount of cereal into a bowl and how much milk to use, in that order. And if you're truly good, you can even tell the computer what specific type of cereal and milk to use.

- Understanding the nature of the code
Another important basic knowledge you must learn in programming is understanding codes. While their functions are generally the same – that is, to power a computer program – codes differ in design and use depending on the language. Codes are at the heart of a computer program and will be one of the basics you will learn in programming.

- Learning problem-solving
Much of your time as a first-time computer programmer will be spent poring over problems – how to create a source code for a desired end result, how to fix a bug, how to solve a glitch, how to put things together or in sequence so they work. You'll learn how to look at a problem, break it down to its solvable components and come up with ways to solve it.

- Thinking logically.
If you're not a fan of mathematics and logic, you'll be dismayed to know that many of the computer programming fundamentals you'll be learning will require you to think in numbers, figures and sequences. However, these basics are easy to learn, provided you have the patience to follow the right steps. Once you've trained your mind to think like this, you're well on your way to a great career as a computer programmer.


Learning Computer Programming Terminology
Computer programmers use a range of terminologies that make sense only to them and to their colleagues. For other people who are not very adept with computers and programming, those words either mean something else or don't mean anything at all. Here's an overview of the ten most commonly used and confused computer programming terminologies that everybody should know, explained in layman's terms:

1. 1GL
1GL means First Generation Programming Language. It is actually a machine level programming language that is written in one's and zero's. These are the programs that can be understood by the computer's central processing unit directly. There's no need to run it into a compiler or any other programming software. There are also second, third, up to fourth generation computer programming language.

2. Abandon ware
Abandon ware are software that are not being used, supported, or sold by its respective publisher any longer. These types of software cannot be resold or redistributed to end-users unless otherwise given away as a freeware.

3. ActiveX
ActiveX are programs using the Visual Basic programming language. It is basically created for active contents of the software that are commonly used by other applications that are already installed or existing on the computer. Sometimes, it even shares the ones used by the operating system itself. ActiveX is the one responsible for the interactive features of web-based programs.

4. Beta Version
When a software, a website, or any application is tagged as a beta release or beta version, it means that that version is its first ever launch. It is the program that incorporates the very basic features and requirements of the software. At that point, the software is not yet tested for bugs. The beta version of the software is normally its test run.

5. DirectX
DirectX is a program provided by Microsoft. It is a collection of different multimedia applications and programming interfaces. It is built into the Windows operating system. DirectX is mostly used in gaming applications.

6. Emulation
Emulation is the term given to the capacity of a certain program to imitate another device or program. There are different degrees of emulation. Emulators are usually created for arcade game devices so it can be played on a desktop computer.

7. Firmware
Firmware refers to the software that is implanted in a device or hardware. The firmware usually contains a set of protocols that the hardware has to run so it would work smoothly with the other devices that it is attached to.

8. HTML
HTML is hypertext markup language. It is the language used by web pages. It is a programming language that has a way to describe the different parts of the text created. It can denote text used as paragraphs, text, headings, and lists.

9. Java
Java is an object oriented programming language. Sun Microsystems developed the software and it can be said that it resembles the C++ program. However, it was structured to avoid the flaws of the latter. This is widely used in the world wide web as well.

10. Linux
Linux is an example of operating software in the likes of Windows and Mac Os. But unlike these two, Linux is a free open source program. Anybody can use the software for redistribution and modification.

These are just some of the computer programming terminologies you should know so that the next time you come across them, you won't be guessing what they means. Programming can be a complex task but if you learn the basic things like terminologies, you will surely find the subject interesting. https://eisteve..com.ng/2017/08/most-used-computer-programming.html