An unambiguous, executable, and terminating  specification of a way to solve a problem. 

Breaking up a problem and hiding details to reduce the complexity of a task. 

A method that returns information but does not change the state of the program.

Ex: isMouseOver(), isGameOver(), frontIsClear(), countMyBeepers(), facingWest()

A number system consisting of 0 and 1.

Binary digit; the smallest unit of information, having two possible values: 0 and 1.

A group of statements bracketed by {}.

The body of a function is the code between the curly braces.  For example:

void exampleFunction(int x)

{

  // code

}

A number made up of eight bits. Essentially all currently manufactured computers use a byte as the smallest unit of storage in memory. 

The preferred style of naming variables, where the first letter of every word after the first is capitalized.    Ex:   numBeepers,  isAlive

An explanation to help the human reader understand a section of a program; ignored by the compiler.  This has two forms.

// This is an inline comment.  It works for a single line

/* This is an extended comment.  It can go across
    multiple lines, based on the starting and closing symbols  */

An operator that compares integer values.  These include: <, <=, >, >=, ==, and !=

A loop that has a number of iterations set before the loop begins.  Usually this is a for loop.

A data type that stores an floating.  An floating point number is a positive or negative number that includes decimal values.
 

Ex:   -3.6, 1.42, or 8.0

A block of code that works toward a common purpose.  Also known as methods. 

Writing a program in such a way that its data and parameters are fixed and cannot be altered without modifying the program.  This is considered a bad practice.

Ex #1:  In your Garden project,  instead of using parameters to draw something the mouse position, if you made it always draw at a fixed location like 50, 80.  

Ex #2:  Making Karel follow an exact path to follow in a single specific maze, rather than teaching him how to navigate any maze.  

The part of a computer that stores things in long-term memory.  This is typically slower than RAM, but has a larger storage capacity.  This is where we store files and programs.

The header of a function is the first line.  This is also known as the signature.  For example:

void exampleFunction(int x)

{

  // code

}

A loop that has an undetermined number of iterations when the loop begins.  Usually this is a while loop.

A data type that stores an integer.  An integer is a positive or negative whole number.
 

Ex:   -3, 0, or 8

An error in a syntactically correct program that causes it to act differently from its specification.

Ex #1:  My program runs, but when I click the meteor I get two points instead of one.

Ex #2:  My program runs, but Karel crashes into a tree.

An operator that can be applied to Boolean values. There are three core logical operators in Processing: AND (&&), OR (||), and NOT (!)

A block of code that works toward a common purpose.  Also known as functions. 

The top line of a method that includes a return type, name, and list of parameters.

A method that changes the state of the program but does not return information.

Ex:  move(), turnLeft(), putBeeper()

A modular program is divided up into small parts with minimal ties between each part.

Ex:  In Garden, we wrote drawFlower(float x, float y) to take a parameter where we draw a flower.  This code is modular, because we could plug any value into x and y and the code would work.  It is not dependent on specifics like mouse position.

An item of information that is specified to a method when the method is called.  Used to “pass” information.   For example:

void exampleFunction(int x)

{

  // code

}

A programming language developed in 2001 that is based on Java.  It has a focus on ease of use, education, and visual design.

The structure of your program.  Good organization for a program typically means:

• Breaking your code up into smaller parts (functions)

• Having code that is appropriately indented and spaces

• Using comments to describe and label sections of code

RAM (Random Access Memory) is the part of a computer that stores things in short-term memory.  This is typically faster than a Hard Drive, but has a smaller storage capacity.  This is where a program stores things it is actively working on, such as variables in your program.

The type of data returned by a method back to the code that called it.   A method that does not return any information has a return type of void. For example:

void exampleFunction(int x)

{

  // code

}

Programmers highly value writing code that is reusable.  Reusable code is typically strongly associated with code that has high modularity, and is written in a clear and easy to read fashion. 

A syntactical unit in a program, usually referring to a single line of code.

Rules that define how to form instructions in a particular programming language.

A mistake in code that violates the rules of a language's syntax, preventing the code from compiling.

Ex:  My program won't run because my curly braces are a mess.