Prelude to Programming provides beginning students with a language-independent framework for learning core programming concepts and effective design techniques. This approach gives students the foundation they need to understand the logic behind program design and to establish effective programming skills.   The Fifth Edition offers students a lively and accessible presentation as they learn core programming concepts – including data types, control structures, data files and arrays, and program design techniques such as top-down modular design and proper program documentation and style. Problem-solving skills are developed when students learn how to use basic programming tools and algorithms, which include data validation, defensive programming, calculating sums and averages, and searching and sorting lists. A copy of the RAPTOR flow-charting software is included with the Fifth Edition.  

Table of Contents:
Preface xv 0 Introduction 1 In the Everyday World: Computers Everywhere 2 0.1 A Brief History of Computers 2 What Is a Computer? 2 Personal Computers 4 The Internet 7 0.2 Computer Basics 8 The Central Processing Unit 9 Internal Memory 9 Mass Storage Devices 10 Input Devices 12 Output Devices 12 0.3 Software and Programming Languages 14 Types of Software 14 Types of Programming Languages 15 Chapter Review and Exercises 18 1 An Introduction to Programming 23 In the Everyday World: You Are Already a Programmer! 24 1.1 What Is Programming? 24 A General Problem-Solving Strategy 25 Creating Computer Programs: The Program Development Cycle 26 1.2 Basic Programming Concepts 27 A Simple Program 28 Data Input 30 Program Variables and Constants 32 1.3 Data Processing and Output 35 Processing Data 35 Data Output 39 1.4 Character and String Data 43 The Declare Statement 43 1.5 Integer Data 46 Operations on Integers 47 The Binary Number System 48 Integer Representation 50 1.6 Floating Point Data 55 The Declare Statement Revisited 56 Types of Floating Point Numbers 57 Floating Point Representation 59 Chapter Review and Exercises 62 2 Developing a Program 69 In the Everyday World: Planning to Program? You Need a Plan 70 2.1 The Program Development Cycle 71 The Process of Developing a Program 71 Additional Steps in the Cycle 74 2.2 Program Design 78 Modular Programming 78 2.3 Coding, Documenting, and Testing a Program 86 Coding and Documenting a Program 87 Testing a Program 89 Types of Errors 89 2.4 Commercial Programs: Testing and Documenting 91 The Testing Phase Revisited 91 External Documentation 92 2.5 Structured Programming 94 Flowcharts 94 Control Structures 99 Programming Style 102 Chapter Review and Exercises 104 3 Selection Structures: Making Decisions 111 In the Everyday World: Decisions, Decisions, Decisions... 112 3.1 An Introduction to Selection Structures 113 Types of Selection Structures 113 Single- and Dual-Alternative Structures 114 3.2 Relational and Logical Operators 120 Relational Operators 120 Logical Operators 123 Hierarchy of Operations 128 3.3 ASCII Code and Comparing Strings 130 Representing Characters by Numbers 130 3.4 Selecting from Several Alternatives 133 Using If Structures 134 Using Case-Like Statements 137 3.5 Applications of Selection Structures 141 Defensive Programming 141 Menu-Driven Programs 144 3.6 Focus on Problem Solving: A New Car Price Calculator 147 Problem Statement 147 Problem Analysis 147 Program Design 148 Program Code 151 Program Test 151 Chapter Review and Exercises 152 4 Repetition Structures: Looping 163 In the Everyday World: Loops 164 4.1 An Introduction to Repetition Structures: Computers Never Get Bored! 165 Loop Basics 165 Relational and Logical Operators 168 Constructing Flowcharts with a Loop Structure 169 4.2 Types of Loops 172 Pre-Test and Post-Test Loops 173 Counter-Controlled Loops 177 4.3 The For Loop 183 The For Statement 184 The For Loop in Action 187 The Careful Bean Counter 190 4.4 Applications of Repetition Structures 195 Using Sentinel-Controlled Loops to Input Data 195 Data Validation 199 The Floor() and Ceiling() Functions 203 Computing Sums and Averages 206 4.5 Focus on Problem Solving: A Cost, Revenue, and Profit Problem 211 Problem Statement 211 Problem Analysis 211 Program Design 213 Program Code 216 Program Test 216 Chapter Review and Exercises 218 5 More about Loops and Decisions 225 In the Everyday World: Advanced Loops 226 5.1 Combining Loops with If-Then Statements 226 Exiting a Loop Early 227 5.2 Combining Loops with If-Then Structures in Longer Programs 236 The Length_of() Function 242 The Print Statement and the New Line Indicator 242 5.3 Random Numbers 246 The Random Function 247 Not Really Random: The Pseudorandom Number 251 5.4 Nested Loops 252 Nested For Loops 253 Nesting Other Kinds of Loops 257 A Mental Workout: Mind Games 262 5.5 Focus on Problem Solving: A Guessing Game 269 Problem Statement 270 Problem Analysis 270 Program Design 271 Program Code 276 Program Test 276 Chapter Review and Exercises 278 6 Arrays: Lists and Tables 285 In the Everyday World: Arrays 286 6.1 One-Dimensional Arrays 287 Array Basics 287 Parallel Arrays 293 Some Advantages of Using Arrays 296 6.2 Searching and Sorting Arrays 300 The Serial Search Technique 300 The Bubble Sort Technique 304 6.3 More about Searching and Sorting 312 Binary Search 313 Selection Sort 317 6.4 Strings as Arrays of Characters 322 Concatenation Revisited 323 String Length versus Array Size 324 6.5 Two-Dimensional Arrays 326 An Introduction to Two-Dimensional Arrays 326 Using Two-Dimensional Arrays 328 6.6 Focus on Problem Solving: A Grade Management Program 332 Problem Statement 333 Problem Analysis 333 Program Design 335 Program Code 341 Program Test 341 Chapter Review and Exercises 342 7 Program Modules, Subprograms, and Functions 351 In the Everyday World: Living and Programming in Manageable Pieces: Subprograms 352 7.1 Data Flow Diagrams and Parameters 353 The Big Sale: The Sale Price Computation Program 353 Data Flow Diagrams 354 An Introduction to Arguments and Parameters 355 7.2 More about Subprograms 362 Value and Reference Parameters 362 How to Tell the Difference between Value and Reference Parameters 363 Two Helpful Functions: ToUpper() and ToLower() 367 The Scope of a Variable 370 7.3 Functions 374 Built-in Functions 374 User-Defined Functions 378 7.4 Recursion 382 The Recursive Process 383 7.5 Focus on Problem Solving: A Grade Management Program 388 Problem Statement 388 Problem Analysis 388 Program Design 388 Program Code 395 Program Test 396 Chapter Review and Exercises 398 8 Sequential Data Files 405 In the Everyday World: Data Files 406 8.1 An Introduction to Data Files 407 File Basics 407 Creating and Reading Sequential Files 409 8.2 Modifying a Sequential File 415 Deleting Records 415 Modifying Records 418 Inserting Records 419 Using Arrays in File Maintenance 421 8.3 Merging Sequential Files 423 8.4 Focus on Problem Solving: Control Break Processing 426 Problem Statement 427 Problem Analysis 427 Program Design 429 Coding and Testing the Program 431 8.5 Focus on Problem Solving: The Invoice Preparation Program 432 Problem Statement 432 Problem Analysis 432 Program Design 434 Program Code 438 Program Test 438 Chapter Review and Exercises 439 9 An Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming 447 In the Everyday World: Objects 448 9.1 Classes and Objects 448 Classes 448 Defining Classes and Creating Objects 450 Creating Objects 453 The Constructor 454 9.2 More Features of Object-Oriented Programming 456 Benefits of Object-Oriented Languages 456 Inheritance and Polymorphism 456 9.3 Object-Oriented Program Design and UML 468 Modeling Languages 470 Unified Modeling Language 471 9.4 Focus on Problem Solving: Using OOP to Create the Parking Lot Program 474 Problem Statement 474 Problem Analysis 474 Program Design 476 Creating the Necessary Submodules 482 Program Code 485 Program Test 485 Chapter Review and Exercises 486 Appendix A: Decimal, Binary, and Hexadecimal Representation 493 A.1 Bases and Exponents 493 Expanded Notation 494 A.2 The Binary System 495 Converting Binary to Decimal 497 A.3 The Hexadecimal System 497 Hexadecimal Digits 498 Converting Decimal to Hexadecimal 498 Converting Hexadecimal to Decimal 500 Using Hexadecimal Notation 500 Converting Binary to Hexadecimal 501 Appendix B: Integer Representation 503 B.1 Unsigned Integer Format 503 Overflow 504 B.2 Sign and Magnitude Format 504 Representation of Sign-and-Magnitude Integers 505 The Zero 506 B.3 One’s Complement Format 506 The Zero Again 507 B.4 Two’s Complement Format 508 The Two’s Complement Zero 511 Why the Two’s Complement Works 512 Appendix C: Floating Point Number Representation 513 C.1 Binary Conversions to Floating Point 513 Floating Point Numbers–the Integer Part 513 Floating Point Numbers–the Fractional Part 513 Converting a Decimal Fraction to Binary 515 C.2 Putting the Two Parts Together 517 C.3 Scientific and Exponential Notation 518 Scientific Notation 518 Exponential Notation 519 C.4 Base 10 Normalization 520 C.5 Normalizing Binary Floating Point Numbers 520 The Excess_127 System 521 Base 2 Normalization 521 Single Precision Floating Point Numbers 522 C.6 Hexadecimal Representation 525 Appendix D: Introduction to RAPTOR 527 D.1 What Is RAPTOR? 527 D.2 Getting Started 527 D.3 Introduction to RAPTOR Symbols and Variables 530 Variables 530 D.4 RAPTOR Symbols 533 Input Symbol 533 Assignment Symbol 535 Output Symbol 538 D.5 Comments 539 D.6 Built-in Operators and Functions 541 Built-in Constants 542 Relational Operators 542 Boolean (Logical) Operators 543 D.7 Making Decisions: The Selection Symbol 543 D.8 Repetition: The Loop Symbol 544 D.9 The Call Symbol and Subcharts 547 D.10 Arrays 549 D.11 Creating and Displaying Data Files 550 The Redirect_Output Procedure 550 The Redirect_Input Procedure 553 The End_Of_Input Function 553 D.12 Object-Oriented Mode 554 Creating a Class 556 Example: Using the Cube Class to Find the Volume of a Cube 557 Code the Methods 560 The Main Program 563 Inheritance and Polymorphism 564 Glossary 565 Index 585