What is programming?
Programming means giving a computer a list of instructions to follow. Each instruction is a small step. The computer follows the steps exactly and in order, so the instructions must be clear and correct.
Key idea
Three basic building blocks of a program are sequence (steps in order), selection (make a choice) and loop (repeat steps).
The three building blocks
- Sequence: the computer does the steps one after another, in order.
- Selection: the program chooses what to do, using if a condition is true.
- Loop: the program repeats steps instead of writing them many times.
A flowchart is a diagram that shows the steps of a program using boxes and arrows. It helps you plan before you code. A variable is like a labelled box that stores a value, such as a score, that can change while the program runs.
Example
A loop tells the robot: repeat 4 times: move forward, then turn right. This draws a square without writing the two steps four times.
Planning first
Good coders plan first, then write the instructions, then test the program. If there is a mistake, called a bug, they fix it and test again.