Beginning Programming with Java For Dummies
Chapter One
Getting Started
In This Chapter
* What computer programming is all about
* Understanding the software that enables you write programs
* Revving up to use an integrated development environment
Computer programming? What's that? Is it technical? Does it hurt? Is it
politically correct? Does Bill Gates control it? Why would anyone want
to do it? And what about me? Can I learn to do it?
What's It All About?
You've probably used a computer to do word processing. Type a letter, print it
out, and then send the printout to someone you love. If you have easy access
to a computer, then you've probably surfed the Web. Visit a page, click a link,
and see another page. It's easy, right?
Well, it's easy only because someone told the computer exactly what to do. If
you take a computer right from the factory and give no instructions to this
computer, the computer can't do word processing, the computer can't surf
the Web, it can't do anything. All a computer can do is follow the instructions
that people give to it.
Now imagine that you're using Microsoft Word to write the great American
novel, ... read full excerpt from Beginning Programming with Java Small TM/Small for Dummies ebook
