Difference between revisions of "MUMPS Programming/Glossary"
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=== Algorithms === | === Algorithms === | ||
| − | An ''algorithm'' is a way of writing down a recipe or list of things to do which is intended for a computer to follow. The word ''algorithm'' is [[MUMPS Programming/Glossary#Computer_Speak | Computer Speak]]. | + | An ''algorithm'' is a way of writing down a recipe or list of things to do which is intended for a computer to follow. The word ''algorithm'' is [[MUMPS Programming/Glossary#Computer_Speak | Computer Speak]]. Just like the rhythm of a song provides a framework when singing, an algorithm provides the skeleton for the ideas written in a [[MUMPS Programming/Glossary#Computer_Language |Computer Language]] |
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=== Bar === | === Bar === | ||
''Bar'' is part of ''Foobar''. See [[MUMPS Programming/Glossary#Foobar | Foobar]]. | ''Bar'' is part of ''Foobar''. See [[MUMPS Programming/Glossary#Foobar | Foobar]]. | ||
Revision as of 18:22, 2 February 2009
Contents
Algorithms
An algorithm is a way of writing down a recipe or list of things to do which is intended for a computer to follow. The word algorithm is Computer Speak. Just like the rhythm of a song provides a framework when singing, an algorithm provides the skeleton for the ideas written in a Computer Language
Bar
Bar is part of Foobar. See Foobar.
Blargh
This is just a word that I made up for this example. Blargh is not Computer Speak.
Computer Speak
Computer Speak is a special language that computer people use to talk about ideas faster, by making up words that otherwise would take a lot longer to say the same ideas. It is not the language that computer people use to tell the computer something. That is a Computer Language like MUMPS.
Foo
Foo is part of Foobar. see Foobar.
Foobar
Foobar (some people spell it FUBAR) is a made up word from many years before computers were around. Sometimes computer people use part of the word like foo or bar as a name, and sometimes they use Foobar just so they have a name for things they are talking about that don't normally have names.
Data
Data is Computer Speak for things that are stored in a computer. It might be a word, a number, a picture, or any other stuff that you want the computer to save and later be able to give back to you. Sometimes you want the computer to do something else with the data other than just to give it back. The things you can tell the computer to do are called Programs
Data Structures
Data Structures is Computer Speak for the shape of things stored in a computer. Every thing in a computer has some shape. The different shapes determine what you can do with the computer Data.
Programs
The word Program is Computer Speak. A Program is a list of things that you want a computer to do. Programs usually have names, and usually do stuff to things in the computer called Data. Computer People write programs because they don't want to constantly give commands to the computer telling it what to do.
Recipe
The word recipe is not Computer Speak. It is the list of things to get together before cooking or making some food, and the list of things to do to combine the things together to make the food.
Quux
Quux (pronounced like "Quacks" with a "u" sound) is a made up word that isn't commonly a part of Computer Speak. Many computer people use quux as a made up name so they can talk about things that they don't have any better name to use.
