Life without computer programs

[udaylunawat]

My friend from electrical needs to know about programming. He thinks that tv can run without programming. He thinks he can create a calculator without programming.

 

[udaylunawat]

He also thinks a microprocessor works only on circuits without any programming.

 

[Vyom]

Ask him whether he can take any decision without first taking into account current scenario, possible steps and probable outcomes. Chances are that, he can't.
Similarly a Computer can't function without using If Else statements. And that my friend, is the precursor to any kind of programming.

Circuit is made up of Logical And and Logical OR. That is basically the building blocks of any kind of logical circuit. And any kind of useful application can't be created without using those Logical operators, be it for TV or a Calculator.

 

[udaylunawat]

So according to you a tv can work only with circuits without any programming for microcontroller, not considering the size of the circuit.

 

[Vyom]

I am most certain you can't get a working TV without any kind of programming. Any kind of function like changing channels, increasing volume, converting analog signals to digital signals that can be interpreted into combining Red-Green-Blue to create the pixel that it want to show, is just not possible without programming.

 

[udaylunawat]

He asks actually what is programming.
He even says that changing volumes doesn't require programming. It can be done using diodes.

 

[Vyom]

At this point I will have to quote some passages from this source:

On its own, a computer isn't very smart.

A computer is essentially just a big bunch of small electronic switches that are either on or off. By setting different combinations of these switches, you can make the computer do something, for example, display something on the screen or make a sound. That's what programming is at its most basic—telling a computer what to do.

Of course, understanding which combination of switches will make the computer do what you want would be a difficult task—that's where programming languages come in.

People express themselves using a language that has many words. Computers use a simple language that consists of only 1s and 0s, with a 1 meaning "on" and a 0 meaning "off." Trying to talk to a computer in its own language would be like trying to talk to your friends by using Morse code—it can be done, but why would you?

A programming language acts as a translator between you and the computer. Rather than learning the computer's native language (known as machine language), you can use a programming language to instruct the computer in a way that is easier to learn and understand.

A specialized program known as a compiler takes the instructions written in the programming language and converts them to machine language. This means that as a programmer, you don't have to understand what the computer is doing or how it does it. You just have to understand how the programming language works.

Also this:

Do you remember that Bill Cosby routine where he talks about trying to order his kids to do everything they're supposed to do before they go to sleep? From rough memory, "Go into the bathroom. Put the toothpaste on your toothbrush. Brush it all over your teeth. Spit it out. Rinse the brush. Rinse your mouth. Get into the shower. Turn on the water. Stand under the water. Cover yourself with soap. Rinse the soap off."

And then they come back downstairs in sopping-wet pajamas because he didn't tell them to strip before they got into the shower.

Programming is like dealing with a extremely bright, smart-assed child who will do everything you tell him to do. What you want him to do doesn't matter; only what you tell him.

And he speaks his own language, which you're gonna have to learn. And other people have been telling him to do stuff, too.

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Also this video:



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Also this:

 

[udaylunawat]

Thanks help. I think that helped him.