Part IV: Dealing with Data Structures
As do people, computers need a place to store information. People usually dump their information in wallets, purses, filing cabinets, or garages, but computers don't have that luxury.
Instead, computers must store information in something known as a data structure. Every computer program uses data structures, and programmers
3 Introduction
4 Beginning Programming For Dummies, 3rd Edition
invent all sorts of different data structures for various uses. So in this part of the book, I explain how every program uses data structures and provide hands-on examples you can try using Liberty BASIC.
Part V: Algorithms: Telling the Computer What to Do
Algorithms are a fancy way of telling a computer how to accomplish a specific task, step-by-step. Think of an algorithm as a recipe that the computer blindly follows without question.
One perfect algorithm doesn't exist for writing all computer programs, just as one perfect recipe doesn't exist for making all dinners. To make programming easier, programmers invent common algorithms for accomplishing certain tasks. This part of the book explains how those algorithms work and why you want to use them.
Part VI: Internet Programming
The Internet is an integral part of the computer world, so this part of the book introduces you to the basics of various Internet languages, including HTML (which designs the appearance of Web pages), JavaScript, and Java.
In this part, you also see how other people create cool Web pages that look good and can display forms and respond to users. You can use this informa- tion to create Web sites that interact with users.
Part VII: The Part of Tens
To help gently guide you toward writing your own programs, this part of the book provides information that you may find useful to take your program- ming education a step farther.
This part is where the book shows you many of the opportunities that a career in programming can offer. In this part, too, you discover where to find and use various free or commercial programming languages available on the Internet or on this book's enclosed CD. Many of these programming lan- guages sport common names such as C++ and BASIC — or bizarre names such as LISP, Oberon, and Python.
How to Use This Book
Most people use this book to read, although a few are known to line their bookshelves with copies to give the room a more literary appearance. You're most likely to use this book as a reference, a tutorial, or a weapon (if you can throw it really hard at somebody you don't like).
Ideally, you want to use this book along with your computer. Read some of the book and then try what you just read on your computer so that you can see with your own eyes how programming works.
Foolish assumptions
To get the most out of this book, you need access to a computer (because trying to understand computer programming is tough if you can't get near a computer). To take full advantage of this book, you need a computer running Microsoft Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows 2000, or Windows XP.
If you don't feel comfortable with Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Windows XP, buy Windows 98 For Dummies, Windows Me For Dummies, or Windows XP For Dummies, all by Andy Rathbone (and published by Wiley Publishing). For more information about Windows NT or 2000, pick up a copy of Windows NT 4 For Dummies or Windows 2000 Professional For Dummies, both by Andy Rathbone and Sharon Crawford (also published by Wiley Publishing).
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Start from the beginning
