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I'm new & I suck at programming

Started by Morgan Irving, 2007-01-28T19:14:15-06:00 (Sunday)

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Morgan Irving

Okay, first and foremost, I have no idea what forum this is going into since I do not see the option tab.  Bare with me.
I went to the CAOS meeting on Friday and you guys said us new folk should post something to get ourselves out here.  So here I am.
Any programming gurus out there want to help a hopeless beginner out?  It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.  I feel super weird.
Morgan

EDIT::  Okay this is TOTALLY in the wrong spot and I have no idea how to delete it or move it.  I'm sorry.

JR


hah, don't worry a/b the topic. it's not that big of a deal. maybe the old webadmin can change it (...jcam...)

what kind of help did you need? do you have a specific question or two or did you want to find someone to sit down and work with you?

JR
Retired President of CAOS

raptor

Usually if your looking for help, just locate yourself in the lab by the auditorium and even if there isn't a tutor on duty. I've never had a problem just up and asking someone in there a question too.  Ohh and by the way, NEVER be afraid to ask your teacher I have yet to meet one that isn't willing to anser questions.
President of CAOS
Software Engineer NASA Nspires/Roses Grant

Morgan Irving

Thank you.  You guys are very nice.  Yah, I think I am definitely going to go in for tutoring since this first assignment is already like "Uhhhhhhh.."
As far as what I need help on, I just do not know what to assume the computer already knows or if I have to establish everything.  If I do have to establish every possible solution, wow, that blows.

Thank you though.
Morgan


Jerry

Quotemorgangsta wrote:
I just do not know what to assume the computer already knows or if I have to establish everything.  If I do have to establish every possible solution, wow, that blows.

Thank you though.
Morgan

First, computers know nothing. A computer running your program on the other hand knows what you put in the program. It may learn to know more than that if you've programmed it to learn, but that is another story involving artificial intelligence.

Second, there is a class of interesting problems that can only be solved by estabilishing every possible solution. However, it is highly unlikely that your assignment is one of these problems.

Third, you need to think of solving your assignment by finding an algorithm then writing that algorithm into a program. For a simple example, let's say your assignment is to take a number between 1 and 10 billion and determine if it is odd or even. One way to solve the problem is to make a list of all even numbers between 1 and 10 billion and then compare the number someone inputs to every number in the list. If the number is in the list then it is even. This would be solving the problem by determining every possible solution.

On the other hand an algorithm to solve the problem is divide the number by 2. If there is no remainder the number is even. This is an algorithm.

Hope this helps a little.
"Make a Little Bird House in Your Soul" - TMBG...

Jesse Cook

Feel free to come up and address me if you see me in the lab. I tutor in there, and I'm sure I can help explain how things work and help you with any problems you encounter. I'm also the VP of CAOS, so feel free to bring your questions to the meetings.  If you don't know who I am, take a look at the tutor list.  My picture is on the sheet.

Jesse ;-)
Jesse James Cook
7 Yr Prog, Computer Science
Former VP of CAOS