• Question: how are computers programmed ?

    Asked by bellalai to David, Luna, Mark, Melanie, Probash on 23 Mar 2011 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Luna Munoz

      Luna Munoz answered on 23 Mar 2011:

      A series of 1’s and 0’s, really. However, you can use specialized software for programming a computer to follow a set of instructions. I learned to programme using the language of fortran, and I still sometimes use it.

    • Photo: David Pyle

      David Pyle answered on 23 Mar 2011:

      Computers are programmed by writing pieces of code, using one of a number of languages (for example, Java, C, etc). In the early days of personal computers, computer memory was very expensive, and computer programmes had to be very efficient in order to run. Now, memory is cheap and fast to access, and few computer users have to know anything about programming in order to use the applications.

      I first learnt simple programming in ‘Basic’ using the Sinclair ZX81 – an iconic and antique-looking piece of hardware!

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