Introduction to Computing with C++

An introductory computer science course (CS1250) for students with no prior programming background. This course builds a foundation in computational thinking and procedural programming using C++.

Course Overview

This course introduces students to the core concepts of computing through the lens of C++ programming. Emphasis is placed on understanding how to model simple problems and implement solutions using standard programming constructs.

The course intentionally does not cover object-oriented programming. Instead, the focus remains on mastering foundational concepts such as variables, memory, control flow, and modular program structure.

Topics Covered

• Fundamentals
  • What is a program?
  • Binary, compilation, and the role of a compiler
  • Input/output and the terminal
• Data Types & Variables
  • Integers, floats, characters, booleans
  • Type casting, literals, and constants
• Control Flow
  • if, else, switch
  • Comparison and logical operators
• Loops
  • for, while, and do-while loops
  • Loop control with break and continue
• Functions
  • Defining and calling functions
  • Parameter passing: pass-by-value vs. pass-by-reference
  • Return types and scoping rules
• Arrays
  • Declaring and accessing arrays
  • Iterating over arrays
  • Multidimensional arrays (2D)
• Structs
  • Grouping data into composite types
  • Passing structs to functions
• Code Style and Debugging
  • Naming conventions, indentation, and code clarity
  • Compiler errors vs. runtime errors
  • Basic debugging and trace-based reasoning

Learning Objectives

Students who complete this course will be able to:

• Translate real-world problems into precise algorithms
• Write, debug, and test C++ programs using structured procedural design
• Understand how memory and variables interact
• Use functions and arrays to build modular and reusable code
• Explain parameter passing semantics and scope management

Tools Used

• GNU g++ Compiler
• VS Code / CLion IDE
• Linux terminal & Makefiles (optional intro)

Audience

First-year students in computer science, engineering, or scientific fields seeking a rigorous introduction to structured programming.