essay on programming

Essays on programming I think about a lot

Every so often I read an essay that I end up thinking about, and citing in conversation, over and over again.

Here’s my index of all the ones of those I can remember! I’ll try to keep it up to date as I think of more.

There's a lot in here! If you'd like, I can email you one essay per week, so you have more time to digest each one:

Nelson Elhage, Computers can be understood . The attitude embodied in this essay is one of the things that has made the biggest difference to my effectiveness as an engineer:

I approach software with a deep-seated belief that computers and software systems can be understood. … In some ways, this belief feels radical today. Modern software and hardware systems contain almost unimaginable complexity amongst many distinct layers, each building atop each other. … In the face of this complexity, it’s easy to assume that there’s just too much to learn, and to adopt the mental shorthand that the systems we work with are best treated as black boxes, not to be understood in any detail. I argue against that approach. You will never understand every detail of the implementation of every level on that stack; but you can understand all of them to some level of abstraction, and any specific layer to essentially any depth necessary for any purpose.

Dan McKinley, Choose Boring Technology . When people ask me how we make technical decisions at Wave, I send them this essay. It’s probably saved me more heartbreak and regret than any other:

Let’s say every company gets about three innovation tokens. You can spend these however you want, but the supply is fixed for a long while. You might get a few more after you achieve a certain level of stability and maturity, but the general tendency is to overestimate the contents of your wallet. Clearly this model is approximate, but I think it helps. If you choose to write your website in NodeJS, you just spent one of your innovation tokens. If you choose to use MongoDB, you just spent one of your innovation tokens. If you choose to use service discovery tech that’s existed for a year or less, you just spent one of your innovation tokens. If you choose to write your own database, oh god, you’re in trouble.

Sandy Metz, The Wrong Abstraction . This essay convinced me that “don’t repeat yourself” (DRY) isn’t a good motto. It’s okay advice, but as Metz points out, if you don’t choose the right interface boundaries when DRYing up, the resulting abstraction can quickly become unmaintainable:

Time passes. A new requirement appears for which the current abstraction is almost perfect. Programmer B gets tasked to implement this requirement. Programmer B feels honor-bound to retain the existing abstraction, but since isn’t exactly the same for every case, they alter the code to take a parameter…. … Loop until code becomes incomprehensible. You appear in the story about here, and your life takes a dramatic turn for the worse.

Patrick McKenzie, Falsehoods Programmers Believe About Names . When programming, it’s helpful to think in terms of “invariants,” i.e., properties that we assume will always be true. I think of this essay as the ultimate reminder that reality has no invariants :

People’s names are assigned at birth. OK, maybe not at birth, but at least pretty close to birth. Alright, alright, within a year or so of birth. Five years? You’re kidding me, right?

Thomas Ptacek, The Hiring Post . This essay inspired me to put a lot of effort into Wave’s work-sample interview, and the payoff was huge—we hired a much stronger team, much more quickly, than I expected to be able to. It’s also a good reminder that most things that most people do make no sense:

Nothing in Alex’s background offered a hint that this would happen. He had Walter White’s resume, but Heisenberg’s aptitude. None of us saw it coming. My name is Thomas Ptacek and I endorse this terrible pun. Alex was the one who nonced. A few years ago, Matasano couldn’t have hired Alex, because we relied on interviews and resumes to hire. Then we made some changes, and became a machine that spotted and recruited people like Alex: line of business .NET developers at insurance companies who pulled Rails core CVEs out of their first hour looking at the code. Sysadmins who hardware-reversed assembly firmware for phone chipsets. Epiphany: the talent is out there, but you can’t find it on a resume. Our field selects engineers using a process that is worse than reading chicken entrails. Like interviews, poultry intestine has little to tell you about whether to hire someone. But they’re a more pleasant eating experience than a lunch interview.

Gergely Orosz, The Product-Minded Engineer . I send this essay to coworkers all the time—it describes extremely well what traits will help you succeed as an engineer at a startup:

Proactive with product ideas/opinions • Interest in the business, user behavior and data on this • Curiosity and a keen interest in “why?” • Strong communicators and great relationships with non-engineers • Offering product/engineering tradeoffs upfront • Pragmatic handling of edge cases • Quick product validation cycles • End-to-end product feature ownership • Strong product instincts through repeated cycles of learning

tef, Write code that is easy to delete, not easy to extend . The Wrong Abstraction argues that reusable code, unless carefully designed, becomes unmaintainable. tef takes the logical next step: design for disposability, not maintainability. This essay gave me lots of useful mental models for evaluating software designs.

If we see ‘lines of code’ as ‘lines spent’, then when we delete lines of code, we are lowering the cost of maintenance. Instead of building re-usable software, we should try to build disposable software.

Business logic is code characterised by a never ending series of edge cases and quick and dirty hacks. This is fine. I am ok with this. Other styles like ‘game code’, or ‘founder code’ are the same thing: cutting corners to save a considerable amount of time. The reason? Sometimes it’s easier to delete one big mistake than try to delete 18 smaller interleaved mistakes. A lot of programming is exploratory, and it’s quicker to get it wrong a few times and iterate than think to get it right first time.

tef also wrote a follow-up, Repeat yourself, do more than one thing, and rewrite everything , that he thinks makes the same points more clearly—though I prefer the original because “easy to delete” is a unifying principle that made the essay hang together really well.

Joel Spolsky, The Law of Leaky Abstractions . Old, but still extremely influential—“where and how does this abstraction leak” is one of the main lenses I use to evaluate designs:

Back to TCP. Earlier for the sake of simplicity I told a little fib, and some of you have steam coming out of your ears by now because this fib is driving you crazy. I said that TCP guarantees that your message will arrive. It doesn’t, actually. If your pet snake has chewed through the network cable leading to your computer, and no IP packets can get through, then TCP can’t do anything about it and your message doesn’t arrive. If you were curt with the system administrators in your company and they punished you by plugging you into an overloaded hub, only some of your IP packets will get through, and TCP will work, but everything will be really slow. This is what I call a leaky abstraction. TCP attempts to provide a complete abstraction of an underlying unreliable network, but sometimes, the network leaks through the abstraction and you feel the things that the abstraction can’t quite protect you from. This is but one example of what I’ve dubbed the Law of Leaky Abstractions: All non-trivial abstractions, to some degree, are leaky. Abstractions fail. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. There’s leakage. Things go wrong. It happens all over the place when you have abstractions. Here are some examples.

Reflections on software performance by Nelson Elhage, the only author of two different essays in this list! Nelson’s ideas helped crystallize my philosophy of tool design, and contributed to my views on impatience .

It’s probably fairly intuitive that users prefer faster software, and will have a better experience performing a given task if the tools are faster rather than slower. What is perhaps less apparent is that having faster tools changes how users use a tool or perform a task. Users almost always have multiple strategies available to pursue a goal — including deciding to work on something else entirely — and they will choose to use faster tools more and more frequently. Fast tools don’t just allow users to accomplish tasks faster; they allow users to accomplish entirely new types of tasks, in entirely new ways. I’ve seen this phenomenon clearly while working on both Sorbet and Livegrep…

Brandur Leach’s series on using databases to ensure correct edge-case behavior: Building Robust Systems with ACID and Constraints , Using Atomic Transactions to Power an Idempotent API , Transactionally Staged Job Drains in Postgres , Implementing Stripe-like Idempotency Keys in Postgres .

Normally, article titles ending with “in [technology]” are a bad sign, but not so for Brandur’s. Even if you’ve never used Postgres, the examples showing how to lean on relational databases to enforce correctness will be revelatory.

I want to convince you that ACID databases are one of the most important tools in existence for ensuring maintainability and data correctness in big production systems. Lets start by digging into each of their namesake guarantees.

There’s a surprising symmetry between an HTTP request and a database’s transaction. Just like the transaction, an HTTP request is a transactional unit of work – it’s got a clear beginning, end, and result. The client generally expects a request to execute atomically and will behave as if it will (although that of course varies based on implementation). Here we’ll look at an example service to see how HTTP requests and transactions apply nicely to one another.

In APIs idempotency is a powerful concept. An idempotent endpoint is one that can be called any number of times while guaranteeing that the side effects will occur only once. In a messy world where clients and servers that may occasionally crash or have their connections drop partway through a request, it’s a huge help in making systems more robust to failure. Clients that are uncertain whether a request succeeded or failed can simply keep retrying it until they get a definitive response.

Jeff Hodges, Notes on Distributed Systems for Young Bloods . An amazing set of guardrails for doing reasonable things with distributed systems (and note that, though you might be able to get away with ignoring it for a while, any app that uses the network is a distributed system). Many points would individually qualify for this list if they were their own article—I reread it periodically and always notice new advice that I should have paid more attention to.

Distributed systems are different because they fail often • Implement backpressure throughout your system • Find ways to be partially available • Use percentiles, not averages • Learn to estimate your capacity • Feature flags are how infrastructure is rolled out • Choose id spaces wisely • Writing cached data back to persistent storage is bad • Extract services.

J.H. Saltzer, D.P. Reed and D.D. Clark, End-to-End Arguments in System Design . Another classic. The end-to-end principle has helped me make a lot of designs much simpler.

This paper presents a design principle that helps guide placement of functions among the modules of a distributed computer system. The principle, called the end-to-end argument, suggests that functions placed at low levels of a system may be redundant or of little value when compared with the cost of providing them at that low level. Examples discussed in the paper include bit error recovery, security using encryption, duplicate message suppression, recovery from system crashes, and delivery acknowledgement. Low level mechanisms to support these functions are justified only as performance enhancements.

Bret Victor, Inventing on Principle :

I’ve spent a lot of time over the years making creative tools, using creative tools, thinking about them a lot, and here’s something I’ve come to believe: Creators need an immediate connection to what they’re creating.

I can’t really excerpt any of the actual demos, which are the good part. Instead I’ll just endorse it: this talk dramatically, and productively, raised my bar for what I think programming tools (and tools in general) can be. Watch it and be amazed.

Post the essays you keep returning to in the comments!

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10x (engineer, context) pairs

What i’ve been doing instead of writing, my favorite essays of life advice.

format comments in markdown .

Quite a few of these are on my list, here’s some others that I keep returning to every so often:

• https://www.stilldrinking.org/programming-sucks
• https://medium.com/@nicolopigna/this-is-not-the-dry-you-are-looking-for-a316ed3f445f
• https://sysadvent.blogspot.com/2019/12/day-21-being-kind-to-3am-you.html
• https://jeffknupp.com/blog/2014/05/30/you-need-to-start-a-whizbang-project-immediately/

Great list! Some essays I end up returning to are:

• https://www.destroyallsoftware.com/compendium/software-structure?share_key=6fb5f711cae5a4e6
• https://caseymuratori.com/blog_0015

These are conference talks on youtube, not blog posts, but here’s a few of the ones I often end up sending to collaborators as addenda to discussions:

Don Reinertsen - Second Generation Lean Product Development Flow

Joshua Bloch

The Language of the System - Rich Hickey

Some posts:

https://speakerdeck.com/vjeux/react-css-in-js - diagnosis of problems with CSS (not because of React)

https://zachholman.com/talk/firing-people

Especially for fault-tolerant systems, “why restart helps” really opened my eyes:

• https://ferd.ca/the-zen-of-erlang.html

Oh, I forgot: http://web.mit.edu/2.75/resources/random/How%20Complex%20Systems%20Fail.pdf

Oldie but a goodie:

https://www.developerdotstar.com/mag/articles/reeves_design_main.html

+1 for that one

This is a great list. If i could make one addition it would have to be Rich Hickey’s “simple made easy”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oytL881p-nQ

I was once working with a newly formed (4 person) team on a large and complex project under a tight deadline. For a while we weren’t seeing eye to eye on many of the key decisions we made. Watching and reflecting on this talk gave us a shared aim and, perhaps even more importantly, a shared language for making choices that would reduce the complexity of our system. It is a gift that keeps on giving.

Another one that belongs on this list: https://www.kitchensoap.com/2012/10/25/on-being-a-senior-engineer/

A couple of my favorites:

• https://nedbatchelder.com/text/deleting-code.html
• https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2002/01/23/rub-a-dub-dub/

Out of the Tar Pit. https://github.com/papers-we-love/papers-we-love/blob/master/design/out-of-the-tar-pit.pdf

I’d like to nominate another of Nelson Elhage’s posts:

• https://blog.nelhage.com/2016/03/design-for-testability

This has had more direct influence on my day-to-day code writing than anything else. (Also, his other writing on testing is great.)

As another commenter mentioned conference talks, Bryan Cantrill on debugging is important—it meshes well with Nelson’s Computer can be understood . ( https://www.slideshare.net/bcantrill/debugging-microservices-in-production )

A fave of mine: Clojure: Programming with Hand Tools https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShEez0JkOFw

Some essays I like:

Science and the compulsive programmer by Joseph Weizenbaum - written in 1976, but the described phenomena of a compulsive programmer still exists and may be relevant to many: https://www.sac.edu/academicprogs/business/computerscience/pages/hester_james/hacker.htm

https://www.mit.edu/~xela/tao.html - Tao of Programming - not sure if you can classify as an essay, but it is classic!

https://norvig.com/21-days.html - Teach Yourself Programming in Ten Years by Peter Novig - a great essay on how to master programming and why reading books like “Learn X in Y days” won’t be of much help. I recommend it to all beginners

Reginald Braithwaite, Golf is a good program spoiled - http://weblog.raganwald.com/2007/12/golf-is-good-program-spoiled.html . Raganwald has more great essays on his weblog, I just like this one the most.

The link of the last one ( https://vimeo.com/36579366 ) is broken. You may want to update it.

Paul Graham, “Maker’s Schedule, Manager’s Schedule " https://paulgraham.com/makersschedule.html

I keep thinking about those too:

https://www.teamten.com/lawrence/programming/write-code-top-down.html

https://rubyonrails.org/doctrine#provide-sharp-knives

What is Programming?

Programming is everywhere.

Programming is, quite literally, all around us. From the take-out we order, to the movies we stream, code enables everyday actions in our lives. Tech companies are no longer recognizable as just software companies — instead, they bring food to our door, help us get a taxi, influence outcomes in presidential elections, or act as a personal trainer.

When you’re walking down the street, where can you find technology in your environment? Click on the white circles.

…AND PROGRAMMING IS FOR EVERYONE

For many years, only a few people have known how to code. However, that’s starting to change. The number of people learning to code is increasing year by year, with estimates around 31.1 million software developers worldwide , which doesn’t even account for the many OTHER careers that relate to programming.

Here at Codecademy, our mission is to make technical knowledge accessible and applicable. Technology plays a crucial role in our economy — but programming is no longer just for software engineers. Any person can benefit from learning to program — whether it’s learning HTML to improve your marketing emails or taking a SQL course to add a dose of analysis to your research role.

Even outside of the tech industry, learning to program is essential to participating in the world around you: it affects the products you buy, the legal policies you vote for, and the data you share online.

So, let’s dig into what programming is.

WHAT IS PROGRAMMING?

Put simply, programming is giving a set of instructions to a computer to execute. If you’ve ever cooked using a recipe before, you can think of yourself as the computer and the recipe’s author as a programmer. The recipe author provides you with a set of instructions that you read and then follow. The more complex the instructions, the more complex the result!

How good are you at giving instructions? Try and get Codey to draw a square!

PROGRAMMING AS COMMUNICATION, or CODING

“Ok, so now I know what programming is, but what’s coding? I’m here to learn how to code. Are they the same thing?”

While sometimes used interchangeably, programming and coding actually have different definitions. 

• Programming  is the mental process of thinking up instructions to give to a machine (like a computer).
• Coding  is the process of transforming those ideas into a written language that a computer can understand.

Over the past century, humans have been trying to figure out how to best communicate with computers through different programming languages . Programming has evolved from punch cards with rows of numbers that a machine read, to drag-and-drop interfaces that increase programming speed, with lots of other methods in between.

To this day, people are still developing programming languages, trying to improve our programming efficiency. Others are building new languages that improve accessibility to learning to code, like developing an Arabic programming language or improving access for the blind and visually impaired .

There are tons of programming languages out there, each with its own unique strengths and applications. Ultimately, the best one for you depends on what you’re looking to achieve. Check out our tips for picking your first language to learn more.

PROGRAMMING AS COLLABORATION

“The problem with programming is not that the computer isn’t logical—the computer is terribly logical, relentlessly literal-minded.”

Ellen Ullman, Life in Code

When we give instructions to a computer through code, we are, in our own way, communicating with the computer. But since computers are built differently than we are, we have to translate our instructions in a way that computers will understand.

Computers interpret instructions in a very literal manner, so we have to be very specific in how we program them. Think about instructing someone to walk. If you start by telling them, “Put your foot in front of yourself,” do they know what a foot is? Or what front means? (and now we understand why it’s taken so long to develop bipedal robots…). In coding, that could mean making sure that small things like punctuation and spelling are correct. Many tears have been shed over a missing semicolon ( ; ) a symbol that a lot of programming languages use to denote the end of a line.

But rather than think of this as a boss-employee relationship, it’s more helpful to think about our relationship with computers as a collaboration.

The computer is just one (particularly powerful) tool in a long list of tools that humans have used to extend and augment their abilities.

As mentioned before, computers are very good at certain things and well, not so good at others. But here’s the good news: the things that computers are good at, humans suck at, and the things that computers suck at, humans are good at! Take a look at this handy table:

Just imagine what we can accomplish when we work together! We can make movies with incredible special effects, have continuous 24/7 factory production, and improve our cities and health.

The best computer programs are the ones that enable us to make things that we couldn’t do on our own, but leverage our creative capacities. We may be good at drawing, but a computer is great at doing the same task repeatedly — and quickly!

Use your cursor to draw in the white box in order to see the program draw!

As programming becomes a larger part of our lives, it’s vital that everyone has an understanding of what programming is and how it can be used. Programming is important to our careers, but it also plays a key role in how we participate in politics, how we buy things, and how we stay in touch with one another.

Learning to code is an exciting journey. Whether your goal is to build a mobile app, search a database, or program a robot, coding is a skill that will take you far in life. Just remember — computers are tools. While learning to program may initially be frustrating, if you choose to stick with it, you’ll be able to make some brilliant things.

The Codecademy Team, composed of experienced educators and tech experts, is dedicated to making tech skills accessible to all. We empower learners worldwide with expert-reviewed content that develops and enhances the technical skills needed to advance and succeed in their careers.

Related articles

Why object-oriented programming, learn more on codecademy, code foundations, introduction to it.

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What is Python? Executive Summary

Essay on Coding

Students are often asked to write an essay on Coding in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Coding

What is coding.

Coding is like giving instructions to a computer. Just as you tell a friend to pass a ball, you tell a computer what to do by writing down steps in a language it understands. These languages are called programming languages, and some popular ones are Python, Java, and HTML.

Why Learn Coding?

Learning to code is useful. It helps you create websites, games, and apps. It’s like learning to build things, but in the digital world. Coding can also help you think better and solve problems because it teaches you to break big tasks into smaller steps.

Where to Start?

You can start coding at any age. Begin with simple languages like Scratch, which is made for beginners. There are many free resources online and books in libraries that can teach you how to start. Joining a coding club at school or in your community can also be fun.

Coding for the Future

Coding is important for the future. Many jobs will need coding knowledge. Even if you don’t become a programmer, understanding coding can help you in many fields like science, business, or art. It’s a skill that opens doors to many opportunities.

Also check:

250 Words Essay on Coding

Coding is like giving commands to a computer to make it do what you want. It’s how we create websites, apps, and games. Imagine you’re the boss, and the computer is your helper. You need to give clear instructions so the helper knows exactly what to do.

The Language of Computers

Just like we speak English or Spanish, computers have their own languages, like Python, Java, or Scratch. These languages help us talk to the computer. When we write code, we’re writing down the steps the computer needs to follow to complete a task, like solving a math problem or drawing a picture.

Why Learn to Code?

Learning to code is powerful. It helps you think better and solve problems. When you know how to code, you can make your own games instead of just playing them. You can also make websites for your school projects or even to share your hobbies.

Coding in Everyday Life

Coding is everywhere. When you play a video game, use a phone, or even microwave popcorn, coding is involved. People who know how to code helped make all these things work.

Start Small and Grow

You don’t have to be a genius to code. You can start with easy projects and get better over time. The more you practice, the more you can make your computer do. It’s fun and like learning to build with digital legos. So why not start coding today and see what you can create?

500 Words Essay on Coding

Coding is like giving instructions to a computer to make it do things. Just like we follow recipes to bake a cake, computers follow codes to run programs. Codes are written in different languages, which are not like English or Spanish, but they are called programming languages. Some popular programming languages are Python, Java, and C++.

Learning to code is useful for many reasons. First, it helps you understand how the apps and games you use every day work. It also teaches you how to solve problems because when you code, you often have to find and fix mistakes. Coding can even help you be creative, as you can design your own games or websites. Plus, knowing how to code can lead to good jobs when you grow up, as many companies need people who can write code.

How to Start Coding

Starting to code is easier than you might think. You can begin by using simple programs that let you drag and drop pieces to make code, like puzzle pieces. These are called block-based coding platforms, and Scratch is a popular one for beginners. Once you get the hang of it, you can move on to typing out code in a text editor, which is how professionals do it.

Tools for Coding

To code, you need a computer and coding software. The software can be simple, like Notepad, or more complex, like an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) which helps you write and test your code. Many coding tools are free and easy to download from the internet. There are also lots of books and websites with coding exercises for beginners.

Coding Projects for Beginners

Challenges in coding.

Coding can be tough at times. You might run into errors or ‘bugs’ that stop your code from working right. But don’t get discouraged. Finding and fixing bugs is part of learning to code. It’s like solving a puzzle. Sometimes you might need to ask for help from teachers, friends, or online communities. That’s okay because coders often work together and help each other out.

Coding is a valuable skill that lets you tell computers what to do. It can be fun, like creating your own games, and it’s also important for future jobs. Starting with easy tools and simple projects is the best way to learn. Even though it might be hard sometimes, with practice, anyone can learn to code. So, if you like solving problems and making cool stuff, give coding a try!

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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How to Write the “Why Computer Science?” Essay

What’s covered:, what is the purpose of the “why computer science” essay, elements of a good computer science essay, computer science essay example, where to get your essay edited.

You will encounter many essay prompts as you start applying to schools, but if you are intent on majoring in computer science or a related field, you will come across the “ Why Computer Science? ” essay archetype. It’s important that you know the importance behind this prompt and what constitutes a good response in order to make your essay stand out.

For more information on writing essays, check out CollegeVine’s extensive essay guides that include everything from general tips, to essay examples, to essay breakdowns that will help you write the essays for over 100 schools.

Colleges ask you to write a “ Why Computer Science? ” essay so you may communicate your passion for computer science, and demonstrate how it aligns with your personal and professional goals. Admissions committees want to see that you have a deep interest and commitment to the field, and that you have a vision for how a degree in computer science will propel your future aspirations.

The essay provides an opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants. It’s your chance to showcase your understanding of the discipline, your experiences that sparked or deepened your interest in the field, and your ambitions for future study and career. You can detail how a computer science degree will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to make a meaningful contribution in this rapidly evolving field.

A well-crafted “ Why Computer Science? ” essay not only convinces the admissions committee of your enthusiasm and commitment to computer science, but also provides a glimpse of your ability to think critically, solve problems, and communicate effectively—essential skills for a  computer scientist.

The essay also gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the specific computer science program at the college or university you are applying to. You can discuss how the program’s resources, faculty, curriculum, and culture align with your academic interests and career goals. A strong “ Why Computer Science? ” essay shows that you have done your research, and that you are applying to the program not just because you want to study computer science, but because you believe that this particular program is the best fit for you.

Writing an effective “ Why Computer Science ?” essay often requires a blend of two popular college essay archetypes: “ Why This Major? ” and “ Why This College? “.

Explain “Why This Major?”

The “ Why This Major? ” essay is an opportunity for you to dig deep into your motivations and passions for studying Computer Science. It’s about sharing your ‘origin story’ of how your interest in Computer Science took root and blossomed. This part of your essay could recount an early experience with coding, a compelling Computer Science class you took, or a personal project that sparked your fascination.

What was the journey that led you to this major? Was it a particular incident, or did your interest evolve over time? Did you participate in related activities, like coding clubs, online courses, hackathons, or internships?

Importantly, this essay should also shed light on your future aspirations. How does your interest in Computer Science connect to your career goals? What kind of problems do you hope to solve with your degree?

The key for a strong “ Why This Major? ” essay is to make the reader understand your connection to the subject. This is done through explaining your fascination and love for computer science. What emotions do you feel when you are coding? How does it make you feel when you figure out the solution after hours of trying? What aspects of your personality shine when you are coding? 

By addressing these questions, you can effectively demonstrate a deep, personal, and genuine connection with the major.

Emphasize “Why This College?”

The “ Why This College? ” component of the essay demonstrates your understanding of the specific university and its Computer Science program. This is where you show that you’ve done your homework about the college, and you know what resources it has to support your academic journey.

What unique opportunities does the university offer for Computer Science students? Are there particular courses, professors, research opportunities, or clubs that align with your interests? Perhaps there’s a study abroad program or an industry partnership that could give you a unique learning experience. Maybe the university has a particular teaching methodology that resonates with you.

Also, think about the larger university community. What aspects of the campus culture, community, location, or extracurricular opportunities enhance your interest in this college? Remember, this is not about general praises but about specific features that align with your goals. How will these resources and opportunities help you explore your interests further and achieve your career goals? How does the university’s vision and mission resonate with your own values and career aspirations?

It’s important when discussing the school’s resources that you always draw a connection between the opportunity and yourself. For example, don’t tell us you want to work with X professor because of their work pioneering regenerative AI. Go a step further and say because of your goal to develop AI surgeons for remote communities, learning how to strengthen AI feedback loops from X professor would bring you one step closer to achieving your dream.

By articulating your thoughts on these aspects, you demonstrate a strong alignment between the college and your academic goals, enhancing your appeal as a prospective student.

Demonstrate a Deep Understanding of Computer Science

As with a traditional “ Why This Major? ” essay, you must exhibit a deep and clear understanding of computer science. Discuss specific areas within the field that pique your interest and why. This could range from artificial intelligence to software development, or from data science to cybersecurity. 

What’s important is to not just boast and say “ I have a strong grasp on cybersecurity ”, but instead use your knowledge to show your readers your passion: “ After being bombarded with cyber attack after cyber attack, I explained to my grandparents the concept of end-to-end encryption and how phishing was not the same as a peaceful afternoon on a lake. ”

Make it Fun!

Students make the mistake of thinking their college essays have to be serious and hyper-professional. While you don’t want to be throwing around slang and want to present yourself in a positive light, you shouldn’t feel like you’re not allowed to have fun with your essay. Let your personality shine and crack a few jokes.

You can, and should, also get creative with your essay. A great way to do this in a computer science essay is to incorporate lines of code or write the essay like you are writing out code. 

Now we will go over a real “ Why Computer Science? ” essay a student submitted and explore what the essay did well, and where there is room for improvement.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized.

I held my breath and hit RUN. Yes! A plump white cat jumped out and began to catch the falling pizzas. Although my Fat Cat project seems simple now, it was the beginning of an enthusiastic passion for computer science. Four years and thousands of hours of programming later, that passion has grown into an intense desire to explore how computer science can serve society. Every day, surrounded by technology that can recognize my face and recommend scarily-specific ads, I’m reminded of Uncle Ben’s advice to a young Spiderman: “with great power comes great responsibility”. Likewise, the need to ensure digital equality has skyrocketed with AI’s far-reaching presence in society; and I believe that digital fairness starts with equality in education.

The unique use of threads at the College of Computing perfectly matches my interests in AI and its potential use in education; the path of combined threads on Intelligence and People gives me the rare opportunity to delve deep into both areas. I’m particularly intrigued by the rich sets of both knowledge-based and data-driven intelligence courses, as I believe AI should not only show correlation of events, but also provide insight for why they occur.

In my four years as an enthusiastic online English tutor, I’ve worked hard to help students overcome both financial and technological obstacles in hopes of bringing quality education to people from diverse backgrounds. For this reason, I’m extremely excited by the many courses in the People thread that focus on education and human-centered technology. I’d love to explore how to integrate AI technology into the teaching process to make education more available, affordable, and effective for people everywhere. And with the innumerable opportunities that Georgia Tech has to offer, I know that I will be able to go further here than anywhere else.

What the Essay Did Well 

This essay perfectly accomplishes the two key parts of a “ Why Computer Science? ” essay: answering “ Why This Major? ” and “ Why This College? ”. Not to mention, we get a lot of insight into this student and what they care about beyond computer science, and a fun hook at the beginning.

Starting with the “ Why This Major? ” aspect of the response, this essay demonstrates what got the student into computer science, why they are passionate about the subject, and what their goals are. They show us their introduction to the world of CS with an engaging hook: “I held my breath and hit RUN. Yes! A plump white cat jumped out and began to catch the falling pizzas. ” We then see this is a core passion because they spent “ Four years and thousands of hours ,” coding.

The student shows us why they care about AI with the sentence, “ Every day, surrounded by technology that can recognize my face and recommend scarily-specific ads ,” which makes the topic personal by demonstrating their fear at AI’s capabilities. But, rather than let panic overwhelm them, the student calls upon Spiderman and tells us their goal of establishing digital equality through education. This provides a great basis for the rest of the essay, as it thoroughly explains the students motivations and goals, and demonstrates their appreciation for interdisciplinary topics.

Then, the essay shifts into answering “ Why This College? ”, which it does very well by honing in on a unique facet of Georgia Tech’s College of Computing: threads. This is a great example of how to provide depth to the school resources you mention. The student describes the two threads and not only why the combination is important to them, but how their previous experiences (i.e. online English tutor) correlate to the values of the thread: “ For this reason, I’m extremely excited by the many courses in the People thread that focus on education and human-centered technology. ”

What Could Be Improved

This essay does a good job covering the basics of the prompt, but it could be elevated with more nuance and detail. The biggest thing missing from this essay is a strong core to tie everything together. What do we mean by that? We want to see a common theme, anecdote, or motivation that is weaved throughout the entire essay to connect everything. Take the Spiderman quote for example. If this was expanded, it could have been the perfect core for this essay.

Underlying this student’s interest in AI is a passion for social justice, so they could have used the quote about power and responsibility to talk about existing injustices with AI and how once they have the power to create AI they will act responsibly and help affected communities. They are clearly passionate about equality of education, but there is a disconnect between education and AI that comes from a lack of detail. To strengthen the core of the essay, this student needs to include real-world examples of how AI is fostering inequities in education. This takes their essay from theoretical to practical.

Whether you’re a seasoned writer or a novice trying your hand at college application essays, the review and editing process is crucial. A fresh set of eyes can provide valuable insights into the clarity, coherence, and impact of your writing. Our free Peer Essay Review tool offers a unique platform to get your essay reviewed by another student. Peer reviews can often uncover gaps, provide new insights or enhance the clarity of your essay, making your arguments more compelling. The best part? You can return the favor by reviewing other students’ essays, which is a great way to hone your own writing and critical thinking skills.

For a more professional touch, consider getting your essay reviewed by a college admissions expert . CollegeVine advisors have years of experience helping students refine their writing and successfully apply to top-tier schools. They can provide specific advice on how to showcase your strengths, address any weaknesses, and generally present yourself in the best possible light.

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Computer Science Essay Examples

Explore 15+ Brilliant Computer Science Essay Examples: Tips Included

Published on: May 5, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 30, 2024

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Crafting a top-notch essay can be a daunting task, but it's crucial to your success in the field of computer science.

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In this comprehensive guide, we'll provide you with inspiring examples of computer science essays. You'll learn everything you need to know to write effective and compelling essays that impress your professors and get you the grades you deserve.

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Computer Science Essays: Understanding the Basics

A computer science essay is a piece of writing that explores a topic related to computer science. It may take different forms, such as an argumentative essay, a research paper, a case study, or a reflection paper. 

Just like any other essay, it should be well-researched, clear, concise, and effectively communicate the writer's ideas and arguments.

Computer essay examples encompass a wide range of topics and types, providing students with a diverse set of writing opportunities. 

Here, we will explore some common types of computer science essays:

Middle School Computer Science Essay Example

College Essay Example Computer Science

University Computer Science Essay Example

Computer Science Extended Essay Example

Uiuc Computer Science Essay Example [

Computer Science Essay Examples For Different Fields

Computer science is a broad field that encompasses many different areas of study. For that, given below are some examples of computer science essays for some of the most popular fields within the discipline. 

By exploring these examples, you can gain insight into the different types of essays within this field.

College Application Essay Examples Computer Science

The Future of Computers Technology

Historical Development of Computer Science

Young Children and Technology: Building Computer Literacy

Computer Science And Artificial Intelligence

Looking for more examples of computer science essays? Given below are some additional examples of computer science essays for readers to explore and gain further inspiration from. 

Computer Science – My Choice for Future Career

My Motivation to Pursue Undergraduate Studies in Computer Engineering

Abstract Computer Science

Computer Science Personal Statement Example

Sop For Computer Science

Computer Science Essay Topics

There are countless computer science essay topics to choose from, so it can be challenging to narrow down your options. 

However, the key is to choose a topic that you are passionate about and that aligns with your assignment requirements.

Here are ten examples of computer science essay topics to get you started:

• The impact of artificial intelligence on society: benefits and drawbacks
• Cybersecurity measures in cloud computing systems
• The Ethics of big data: privacy, bias, and Transparency
• The future of quantum computing: possibilities and challenges
• The Role of computer hardware in Healthcare: current applications and potential innovations
• Programming languages: a comparative analysis of their strengths and weaknesses
• The use of machine learning in predicting human behavior
• The challenges and solutions for developing secure and reliable software
• The Role of blockchain technology in improving supply chain management
• The use of data analytics in business decision-making.

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Tips to Write an Effective Computer Science Essay

Writing an effective computer science essay requires a combination of technical expertise and strong writing skills. Here are some tips to help you craft a compelling and well-written essay:

Understand the Requirements: Make sure you understand the assignment requirements, including the essay type, format, and length.

• Choose a Topic: Select a topic that you are passionate about and that aligns with your assignment requirements.
• Create an Outline: Develop a clear and organized outline that highlights the main points and subtopics of your essay.
• Use Appropriate Language and Tone: Use technical terms and language when appropriate. But ensure your writing is clear, concise, and accessible to your target audience.
• Provide Evidence: Use relevant and credible evidence to support your claims, and ensure you cite your sources correctly.
• Edit and Proofread Your Essay: Review your essay for clarity, coherence, and accuracy. Check for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and formatting issues.

By following these tips, you can improve the quality of your computer science essay and increase your chances of success.

In conclusion, writing a computer science essay can be a challenging yet rewarding experience. 

It allows you to showcase your knowledge and skills within the field and develop your writing and critical thinking abilities. By following the examples provided in this blog, you can create an effective computer science essay, which will meet your requirements.

If you find yourself struggling with the writing process, consider seeking essay writing help online from CollegeEssay.org. 

Our AI essay writer can provide guidance and support in crafting a top-notch computer science essay.

So, what are you waiting for? Hire our computer science essay writing service today!

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Topics for Essays on Programming Languages: Top 7 Options

Java Platform Editions and Their Peculiarities

Python: a favorite of developers, javascript: the backbone of the web, typescript: narrowing down your topic, the present and future of php, how to use c++ for game development, how to have fun when learning swift.

‍ Delving into the realm of programming languages offers a unique lens through which we can explore the evolution of technology and its impact on our world. From the foundational assembly languages to today's sophisticated, high-level languages, each one has shaped the digital landscape.

Whether you're a student seeking a deep dive into this subject or a tech enthusiast eager to articulate your insights, finding the right topic can set the stage for a compelling exploration.

This article aims to guide you through selecting an engaging topic, offering seven top options for essays on programming languages that promise to spark curiosity and provoke thoughtful analysis.

"If you’re a newbie when it comes to exploring Java programming language, it’s best to start with the basics not to overcomplicate your assignment. Of course, the most obvious option is to write a descriptive essay highlighting the features of Java platform editions:

- Java Standard Edition (Java SE). It allows one to develop Java applications and ensures the essential functionality of the programming language;

- Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE). It's an extension of the previous edition for developing and running enterprise applications;

- Java Micro Edition serves for running applications on small and mobile devices.

You can explain the purpose of each edition and the key components to inform and give value to the readers. Or you can go in-depth and opt for a compare and contrast essay to show your understanding of the subject and apply critical thinking skills."

Need assistance with Java programming? Click " Java Homework Help " and find out how Studyfy can support you in mastering your Java assignments!

You probably already know that this programming language is widely used globally.

Python is perfect for beginners who want to master programming because of the simple syntax that resembles English. Besides, look at the opportunities it opens:

- developing web applications, of course;

- building command-line interface (CLI) for routine tasks automation;

- creating graphical user interfaces (GUIs);

- using helpful tools and frameworks to streamline game development;

- facilitating data science and machine learning;

- analyzing and visualizing big data.

All these points can become solid ideas for your essay. For instance, you can use the list above as the basis for argumentation why one should learn Python. After doing your research, you’ll find plenty of evidence to convince your audience.

And if you’d like to spice things up, another option is to add your own perspective to the debate on which language is better: Python or JavaScript.

If you are struggling with Python assignments? Click on " Python homework help " and let Studyfy provide the assistance you need to excel!

"This programming language is no less popular than the previous one. It’s even considered easier to learn for a newbie. If you master it, you’ll gain a valuable skill that can help you start a lucrative career. Just think about it:

- JavaScript is used by almost all websites;

with it, you can develop native apps for iOS and Android;

- it allows you to grasp functional, object-oriented, and imperative programming;

you can create jaw-dropping visual effects for web pages and games;

- it’s also possible to work with AI, analyze data, and find bugs.

So, drawing on the universality of JavaScript and the career opportunities it brings can become a non-trivial topic for your essay.

Hint: look up job descriptions demanding the knowledge of JavaScript. Then, compare salaries to provide helpful up-to-date information. Your professor should be impressed with your approach to writing."

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"Yes, you guessed right - this programming language kind of strengthens the power of JavaScript. It allows developers to handle large-scale projects. TypeScript enables object-oriented programming and static typing; it has a single open-source compiler.

If you want your essay to stand out and show a deeper understanding of the programming basics, the best way is to go for a narrow topic. In other words, niche your writing by focusing on the features of TypeScript.

For example, begin with the types:

- Tuple, etc.

Having elaborated on how they work, proceed to explore the peculiarities, pros, and cons of TypeScript. Explaining when and why one should opt for it as opposed to JavaScript also won't hurt.

Here, you can dive into details as much as you want, but remember to give examples and use logical reasoning to prove your claims."

"This language intended for server-side web development has been around for a really long time: almost 80% of websites still use it.

But there’s a stereotype that PHP can’t compete with other modern programming languages. Thus, the debates on whether PHP is still relevant do not stop. Why not use this fact to compose a top-notch analytical essay?

Here’s how you can do it:

1. research and gather information, especially statistics from credible sources;

2. analyze how popular the programming language is and note the demand for PHP developers;

3. provide an unbiased overview of its perks and drawbacks and support it with examples;

4. identify the trends of using PHP in web development;

5. make predictions about the popularity of PHP over the next few years.

If you put enough effort into crafting your essay, it’ll not only deserve an “A” but will also become a guide for your peers interested in programming.

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For more help, tap into our pool of professional writers and get expert essay editing services!

C++ is a universal programming language considered most suitable for developing various large-scale applications. Yet, it has gained the most popularity among video game developers as C++ is easier to apply to hardware programming than other languages.

Given that the industry of video games is fast-growing, you can write a paper on C++ programming in this sphere. And the simplest approach to take is offering advice to beginners.

For example, review the tools for C++ game development:

- GameSalad;

- Lumberyard;

- Unreal Engine;

- GDevelop;

- GameMaker Studio;

- Unity, among others.

There are plenty of resources to use while working on your essay, and you can create your top list for new game developers. Be sure to examine the tools’ features and customer feedback to provide truthful information for your readers.

Facing hurdles with your C++ assignments? Click on " C++ homework help " and discover how Studyfy can guide you to success!

"Swift was created for iOS applications development, and people argue that this programming language is the easiest to learn. So, how about checking whether this statement is true or false?

The creators of Swift aimed to make it as convenient and efficient as possible. Let’s see why programmers love it:

- first of all, because it’s compatible with Apple devices;

- the memory management feature helps set priorities for introducing new functionality;

- if an error occurs, recovering is no problem;

- the language boasts a concise code and is pretty fast to learn;

- you can get advice from the dedicated Swift community if necessary.

Thus, knowing all these benefits, you can build your arguments in favor of learning Swift. But we also recommend reflecting on the opposite point of view to present the whole picture in your essay. And if you want to dig deeper, opt for a comparison with other programming languages."

• Miscellaneous

How to Write an Essay for Programming Students

Programming is a crucial aspect of today’s technology-based lives. It complements the usability of computers and the internet and enhances data processing in machines.

If there were no programmers-and, therefore, no programs such as Microsoft Office, Google Drive, or Windows-you couldn’t be reading this text at the moment.

Given the significance of this field, many programming students are asked to write a paper about it, which makes them be looking for college essay services , and address their “where can I type my essay” goals.

However, if you’re brave enough to write your essay, here’s everything you need to know before embarking on the process.

What is Computer Programming

Computer programming aims to create a range of orders to automate various tasks in a system, such as a computer, video game console, or even cell phone.

Because our daily activities are mostly centered on technology, computer programming is considered to be crucial, and at the same time, a challenging job. Therefore, if you desire to start your career path as a programmer, being hardworking is your number one requirement.

Coding Vs. Writing

Writing codes that can be recognized by computers might be a tough job for programmers, but what makes it even more difficult is that they need to write papers that can be understood by humans as well.

Writing code is very similar to writing a paper. First of all, you should understand the problem (determine the purpose of your writing). Then, you should think about the issue and look for favorable strategies to solve it (searching for related data for writing the paper). Last but not least refers to the debugging procedure. Just like editing and proofreading your document, debugging ensures your codes are well-written.

In the following, we will elaborate more on the writing process.

Essay Writing Process

Writing a programming essay is no different from other types of essays. Once you get to know the basic structure, the rest of the procedure will be a walk in the park.

Write an Outline

An outline is the most critical part of every writing assignment. When you write one, you’re actually preparing an overall structure for your future work and planning for what you intend to talk about throughout the paper.

Your outline must have three main parts: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion, each of which will be explained in detail.

Introduction

The introductory paragraph has two objectives. The first one is to grab readers’ attention, and the second one is to introduce the thesis statement. Besides, it can be used to present the general direction of the subsequent paragraphs and make readers ready for what’s coming next.

The body, which usually contains three paragraphs, is the largest and most important part of the essay. Each of these three paragraphs has its own topic sentence and supporting ideas to justify it, all of which are formed to support the thesis statement.

Based on the subject and type of essay, you can use various materials such as statistics, quotations, examples, or reasons to support your points and write the body paragraphs.

Another important requirement for the body is to use a transition sentence at the end of each body paragraph. This sentence gives a natural flow to your paper and directs your readers smoothly towards the next paragraph topic.

A conclusion is a brief restatement of the previous paragraphs, which summarizes the writing, and points out the main points of the body. It conveys a sense of termination to the essay and provides the readers with some persuasive closing sentences.

Proofreading

If you want to get into an elegant result, the final work shouldn’t be submitted without rereading and revising. While many people consider it to be a skippable step, proofreading is as important as the writing process itself.

Read your paper out loud to spot any grammatical or typing errors. It’s also possible to pay a cheap essay service to check for your potential mistakes or have your friends to the proofreading step for you.

Essay Writing Tips for Programming Students

● Know your audience: Programming is a complex topic, and not everyone understands it well. Consider how much your reader knows about the topic before you start writing. In case you are using service essays, make the writers know who your readers are.

● Cover different technologies: There are so many programming frameworks and tools out there, and new ones seem to pop up every day. Try to cover the relevant technologies in your essay but do stay focused. You shouldn’t confuse your reader by dropping names.

● Pay attention to theory: Many programming students love to get coding and hate theoretical stuff. But writing an essay is an academic task, and much like any other one, it needs to be done based on some theory.

Bottom Line

People who decide to work as programmers need to be all-powerful because they should be able to write documents for both computers and humans. As for the latter, we offered a concise instruction in this article. However, if you are a programming student and have not fairly developed your writing skills or you lack enough time to do so, getting help from a legit essay writing service will be your best option.

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Essay: Programming languages and their uses

Essay details and download:.

• Subject area(s): Information technology essays
• Reading time: 5 minutes
• Price: Free download
• Published: 24 October 2015*
• Last Modified: 24 October 2015
• File format: Text
• Words: 1,388 (approx)
• Number of pages: 6 (approx)

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This page of the essay has 1,388 words.

In general, there are 256 of programming languages exist in the programming world. Programming languages are classified in many ways. The most commonly used programming languages are Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Java and Php. The first most commonly used programming language is Hypertext Markup Language, or commonly known as HTML. HTML is the standard mark-up language used to create web pages. According to Shanon (2007), HTML is a language created for computer to read human command to develop websites. Human can view the websites by connecting to the Internet. HTML started as an easy way to transfer data between computers over the Internet. The earlier objective of designing HTML is for scientists and researches that do not have any experience in publishing articles or journals of their researches. In 1980’s, HTML was proposed and prototyped as ‘ENQUIRE’ by Tim Berners-Lee, a contractor at CERN Inc., for researches to share their research documents over the Internet (Wikipedia, 2015). HTML codes are written in the form of HTML elements consisting of tags enclosed in angle brackets. Some elements that are important in writing codes for HTML is the paragraph tags, the header tags, the image tags, the hypertext reference tags and the bold and italics tags. Each HTML tag describes different document content such as the body of the document, paragraph in the document, the title, links, header and footer, and others. In designing a website, user interface is the most important thing to be considered. This is because user interface is the first thing human sees when they open the website. In complementary of designing the website, HTML is coded along with Cascading Style Sheet (CSS). CSS controls the layout of the interfaces in the website while HTML provides the information displayed in it. In programming world, the line codes are called syntax. The example of HTML syntax is as shown in Table 1. Even though HTML is coded for websites that can be viewed by connecting to the Internet, ‘coding it can be done offline by saving it in the computer and later transfer the files onto the web’ (Shanon, 2007). There are many types of HTML deliverables such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol to send the HTML documents from the web servers to web browsers, HTML e-Mail and HTML Application. Over the time, HTML had gained acceptance through the world of Internet quickly. HTML version 4.0 or HTML4 and HTML version 5 or HTML5 was developed to enhance the websites. Some ‘What You See Is What You Get’ (WYSIWYG) editors (Rohde, n.d.), were developed so that user can get whatever appears in the HTML document using a graphical user interface or GUI. Programmers usually combine HTML, CSS, PHP and JavaScript to create a dynamic websites which are more interesting for users. The second type of most commonly used programming languages is Java language. Java language is currently one of the most popular programming languages being used. Java language is an object-oriented programming language was developed by James Gosling in 1995 at Sun Microsystems that can be run on many different operating systems (Wikipedia, 2015). It is also known as high-level language because it is easier for humans to read and write the command structures. It also helps programmers to write the computer instruction using English commands, rather than write in numeric code. There are a lot of applications and websites that working on Java application, such as to connect a laptop or desktop to data center and from mobile phone to the internet and so on. These applications are called applets. The applets can runs in websites (Arnold, 2005). Java programming is designed to create the functions as C++ programming language but with much simpler understanding and easy to learn and use. There are few things needed to codes Java programming. The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) is the package that consists of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), Java platform core classes, and supporting Java platform libraries. To run Java in the web browser, the JRE will be needed. Java Virtual Machine or JVM helps Java applications to run by compiling the ‘bytecodes’ into a workable codes as an another option to understand one instruction at a time; However, to run Java applets in browser, the JRE need to be installed along with the Java Plug-in software. According to Rouse (2015), ‘Java applets will run on almost any operating system without requiring recompilation and Java is generally regarded as the most strategic language in which to develop applications for the Web because it has no specific operating system extensions’. There are few major characteristics of Java. One of them is ‘the programs created are portable in a network’ (Rouse, 2015). It means that any programs created using Java programming can be run in the network on a server as long as the server has a Java virtual machine. Another characteristic is ‘the code is robust, which means unlike other languages, the Java objects can contain no references to data external to themselves or other known objects’ (Rouse, 2015). The objects inside the code have the same traits or inherit the traits of other objects by being a part of the object class (Rouse, 2015). Apart from that, java programming has the Java applet that was designed to make the programming run fast when executed at the client or server (Rouse, 2015). Besides that, Java is open source software, which means that this software is free to download. Like any programming language, Java language also has its own structure and syntax rules. Once a program has been written, the high-level instruction will be translated into a numeric code which is the computer can understand the instruction and execute the commands. Table 1 shows the example of differences structure to write the Java syntax compared to other programming languages syntax. However, there is a thing called JavaScript that people always confused with Java. Even though the name consists of the ‘Java’ word, but JavaScript is not Java programming. JavaScript is easier to learn than Java and it requires higher level of understanding but it does not have the Java mobility and ‘bytecode’ speed. The third most commonly used programming language that used in developing a program is Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP). PHP is suitable used in web development and also can be embedded into HTML. Besides, PHP scripts are usually used in three main areas which are server-side scripting, command line scripting and writing desktop applications. Usually, PHP used to read data and information from databases, and to add or update the databases content. A single PHP template can be written to retrieve and display the databases records. PHP is a language developed by Rasmas Lerdorf which originally an abbreviation of ‘Personal Home Page (tools)’ (Motive Glossary, 2004). PHP is a recursive programming where the command can be used over and over again to gain data. Before this, this language has been said that has been widely used in server-side scripting (Motive Glossary, 2004), which is can do anything that are related to any other computer graphic image (CGI) program likes collect data, generate dynamic page content or send and receive cookies. This language can be used in any operating systems, including Linux, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and RISC OS. Each of the programming language has its function and same goes with PHP language which are can output images, form a server-side cache for content and easily output any text such as XHTML and XML file. Example code of PHP language that used in developing program can be seen in Table 1. PHP code can be inserted into the HTML webpage because it is an HTML-embedded web scripting language. When PHP page is opened, the PHP code is read from the located page by the server. The results from the PHP functions on the page usually read as HTML codes that can be read by the browser. This is because PHP codes do not have its own interface and were transformed into HTML codes first before the page is loaded and users cannot view the PHP codes on a page without a user interface from the HTML. The reason is to make the PHP page secure to access databases and other secure information. In conclusion, Hypertext Markup Language, Java and Hypertext Preprocessor are considered as the most commonly used programming language in programming world because it is used in creating websites that are essential to our daily lives nowadays.

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What exactly is a programming paradigm?

Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand. ― Martin Fowler

When programming, complexity is always the enemy. Programs with great complexity, with many moving parts and interdependent components, seem initially impressive. However, the ability to translate a real-world problem into a simple or elegant solution requires a deeper understanding.

While developing an application or solving a simple problem, we often say “If I had more time, I would have written a simpler program”. The reason is, we made a program with greater complexity. The less complexity we have, the easier it is to debug and understand. The more complex a program becomes, the harder it is to work on it.

Managing complexity is a programmer’s main concern . So how do programmers deal with complexity? There are many general approaches that reduce complexity in a program or make it more manageable. One of the main approaches is a programming paradigm. Let's dive into programming paradigms!

Introduction to programming paradigms

The term programming paradigm refers to a style of programming . It does not refer to a specific language, but rather it refers to the way you program.

There are lots of programming languages that are well-known but all of them need to follow some strategy when they are implemented. And that strategy is a paradigm.

The types of programming paradigms

Imperative programming paradigm

The word “imperative” comes from the Latin “impero” meaning “I command”.

It’s the same word we get “emperor” from, and that’s quite apt. You’re the emperor. You give the computer little orders to do and it does them one at a time and reports back.

The paradigm consists of several statements, and after the execution of all of them, the result is stored. It’s about writing a list of instructions to tell the computer what to do step by step.

In an imperative programming paradigm, the order of the steps is crucial, because a given step will have different consequences depending on the current values of variables when the step is executed.

To illustrate, let's find the sum of first ten natural numbers in the imperative paradigm approach.

Example in C:

In the above example, we are commanding the computer what to do line by line. Finally, we are storing the value and printing it.

1.1 Procedural programming paradigm

Procedural programming (which is also imperative) allows splitting those instructions into procedures .

NOTE: Procedures aren't functions. The difference between them is that functions return a value, and procedures do not. More specifically, functions are designed to have minimal side effects, and always produce the same output when given the same input. Procedures, on the other hand, do not have any return value. Their primary purpose is to accomplish a given task and cause a desired side effect.

A great example of procedures would be the well known for loop. The for loop's main purpose is to cause side effects and it does not return a value.

To illustrate, let's find the sum of first ten natural numbers in the procedural paradigm approach.

In the example above, we've used a simple for loop to find the summation of the first ten natural numbers.

Languages that support the procedural programming paradigm are:

Procedural programming is often the best choice when:

• There is a complex operation which includes dependencies between operations, and when there is a need for clear visibility of the different application states ('SQL loading', 'SQL loaded', 'Network online', 'No audio hardware', etc). This is usually appropriate for application startup and shutdown (Holligan, 2016).
• The program is very unique and few elements were shared (Holligan, 2016).
• The program is static and not expected to change much over time (Holligan, 2016).
• None or only a few features are expected to be added to the project over time (Holligan, 2016).

Why should you consider learning the procedural programming paradigm?

• It's simple.
• An easier way to keep track of program flow.
• It has the ability to be strongly modular or structured.
• Needs less memory: It's efficient and effective.

1.2 Object-oriented programming paradigm

OOP is the most popular programming paradigm because of its unique advantages like the modularity of the code and the ability to directly associate real-world business problems in terms of code.

Object-oriented programming offers a sustainable way to write spaghetti code. It lets you accrete programs as a series of patches. ― Paul Graham

The key characteristics of object-oriented programming include Class, Abstraction, Encapsulation, Inheritance and Polymorphism.

A class is a template or blueprint from which objects are created.

Objects are instances of classes. Objects have attributes/states and methods/behaviors. Attributes are data associated with the object while methods are actions/functions that the object can perform.

Abstraction separates the interface from implementation. Encapsulation is the process of hiding the internal implementation of an object.

Inheritance enables hierarchical relationships to be represented and refined. Polymorphism allows objects of different types to receive the same message and respond in different ways.

To illustrate, let's find the sum of first ten natural numbers in the object-oriented paradigm approach.

Example in Java:

We have a class Addition that has two states, sum and num which are initialized to zero. We also have a method addValues() which returns the sum of num numbers.

In the Main class, we've created an object, obj of Addition class. Then, we've initialized the num to 10 and we've called addValues() method to get the sum.

Languages that support the object-oriented paradigm:

Object-oriented programming is best used when:

• You have multiple programmers who don’t need to understand each component (Holligan, 2016).
• There is a lot of code that could be shared and reused (Holligan, 2016).
• The project is anticipated to change often and be added to over time (Holligan, 2016).

Why should you consider learning the object-oriented programming paradigm?

• Reuse of code through Inheritance.
• Flexibility through Polymorphism.
• High security with the use of data hiding (Encapsulation) and Abstraction mechanisms.
• Improved software development productivity: An object-oriented programmer can stitch new software objects to make completely new programs (The Saylor Foundation, n.d.).
• Faster development: Reuse enables faster development (The Saylor Foundation, n.d.).
• Lower cost of development: The reuse of software also lowers the cost of development. Typically, more effort is put into the object-oriented analysis and design (OOAD), which lowers the overall cost of development (The Saylor Foundation, n.d.).
• Higher-quality software: Faster development of software and lower cost of development allows more time and resources to be used in the verification of the software. Object-oriented programming tends to result in higher-quality software (The Saylor Foundation, n.d.).

1.3 Parallel processing approach

Parallel processing is the processing of program instructions by dividing them among multiple processors.

A parallel processing system allows many processors to run a program in less time by dividing them up.

Languages that support the Parallel processing approach:

• NESL (one of the oldest ones)

Parallel processing approach is often the best use when:

• You have a system that has more than one CPU or multi-core processors which are commonly found on computers today.
• You need to solve some computational problems that take hours/days to solve even with the benefit of a more powerful microprocessor.
• You work with real-world data that needs more dynamic simulation and modeling.

Why should you consider learning the parallel processing approach?

• Speeds up performance.
• Often used in Artificial Intelligence. Learn more here: Artificial Intelligence and Parallel Processing by Seyed H. Roosta.
• It makes it easy to solve problems since this approach seems to be like a divide and conquer method.

Here are some useful resources to learn more about parallel processing:

• Parallel Programming in C by Paul Gribble
• Introduction to Parallel Programming with MPI and OpenMP by Charles Augustine
• INTRODUCTION TO PARALLEL PROGRAMMING WITH MPI AND OPENMP by Benedikt Steinbusch

2. Declarative programming paradigm

Declarative programming is a style of building programs that expresses the logic of a computation without talking about its control flow.

Declarative programming is a programming paradigm in which the programmer defines what needs to be accomplished by the program without defining how it needs to be implemented. In other words, the approach focuses on what needs to be achieved instead of instructing how to achieve it.

Imagine the president during the state of the union declaring their intentions for what they want to happen. On the other hand, imperative programming would be like a manager of a McDonald's franchise. They are very imperative and as a result, this makes everything important. They, therefore, tell everyone how to do everything down to the simplest of actions.

So the main differences are that imperative tells you how to do something and declarative tells you what to do .

2.1 Logic programming paradigm

The logic programming paradigm takes a declarative approach to problem-solving. It's based on formal logic.

The logic programming paradigm isn't made up of instructions - rather it's made up of facts and clauses. It uses everything it knows and tries to come up with the world where all of those facts and clauses are true.

For instance, Socrates is a man, all men are mortal, and therefore Socrates is mortal.

The following is a simple Prolog program which explains the above instance:

The first line can be read, "Socrates is a man.'' It is a base clause , which represents a simple fact.

The second line can be read, "X is mortal if X is a man;'' in other words, "All men are mortal.'' This is a clause , or rule, for determining when its input X is "mortal.'' (The symbol ":-'', sometimes called a turnstile , is pronounced "if''.) We can test the program by asking the question:

that is, "Is Socrates mortal?'' (The " ?- '' is the computer's prompt for a question). Prolog will respond " yes ''. Another question we may ask is:

That is, "Who (X) is mortal?'' Prolog will respond " X = Socrates ''.

To give you an idea, John is Bill's and Lisa's father. Mary is Bill's and Lisa's mother. Now, if someone asks a question like "who is the father of Bill and Lisa?" or "who is the mother of Bill and Lisa?" we can teach the computer to answer these questions using logic programming.

Example in Prolog:

Example explained:

The above code defines that John is Bill's father.

We're asking Prolog what value of X makes this statement true? X should be Mary to make the statement true. It'll respond X = Mary

Languages that support the logic programming paradigm:

• ALF (algebraic logic functional programming language)

Logic programming paradigm is often the best use when:

• If you're planning to work on projects like theorem proving, expert systems, term rewriting, type systems and automated planning.

Why should you consider learning the logic programming paradigm?

• Easy to implement the code.
• Debugging is easy.
• Since it's structured using true/false statements, we can develop the programs quickly using logic programming.
• As it's based on thinking, expression and implementation, it can be applied in non-computational programs too.
• It supports special forms of knowledge such as meta-level or higher-order knowledge as it can be altered.

2.2 Functional programming paradigm

The functional programming paradigm has been in the limelight for a while now because of JavaScript, a functional programming language that has gained more popularity recently.

The functional programming paradigm has its roots in mathematics and it is language independent. The key principle of this paradigm is the execution of a series of mathematical functions.

You compose your program of short functions. All code is within a function. All variables are scoped to the function.

In the functional programming paradigm, the functions do not modify any values outside the scope of that function and the functions themselves are not affected by any values outside their scope.

To illustrate, let's identify whether the given number is prime or not in the functional programming paradigm.

Example in JavaScript:

In the above example, we've used Math.floor() and Math.sqrt() mathematical functions to solve our problem efficiently. We can solve this problem without using built-in JavaScript mathematical functions, but to run the code efficiently it is recommended to use built-in JS functions.

number is scoped to the function isPrime() and it will not be affected by any values outside its scope. isPrime() function always produces the same output when given the same input.

NOTE: there are no for and while loops in functional programming. Instead, functional programming languages rely on recursion for iteration (Bhadwal, 2019).

Languages that support functional programming paradigm:

Functional programming paradigm is often best used when:

• Working with mathematical computations.
• Working with applications aimed at concurrency or parallelism.

Why should you consider learning the functional programming paradigm?

• Functions can be coded quickly and easily.
• General-purpose functions can be reusable which leads to rapid software development.
• Unit testing is easier.
• Debugging is easier.
• Overall application is less complex since functions are pretty straightforward.

2.3 Database processing approach

This programming methodology is based on data and its movement. Program statements are defined by data rather than hard-coding a series of steps.

A database is an organized collection of structured information, or data, typically stored electronically in a computer system. A database is usually controlled by a database management system (DBMS) ("What is a Database", Oracle, 2019).

To process the data and querying them, databases use tables . Data can then be easily accessed, managed, modified, updated, controlled and organized.

A good database processing approach is crucial to any company or organization. This is because the database stores all the pertinent details about the company such as employee records, transaction records and salary details.

Most databases use Structured Query Language (SQL) for writing and querying data.

Here’s an example in database processing approach (SQL):

The PersonID column is of type int and will hold an integer. The LastName , FirstName , Address , and City columns are of type varchar and will hold characters, and the maximum length for these fields is 255 characters.

The empty Persons table will now look like this:

Database processing approach is often best used when:

• Working with databases to structure them.
• Accessing, modifying, updating data on the database.
• Communicating with servers.

Why are databases important and why should you consider learning database processing approach?

• Massive amount of data is handled by the database: Unlike spreadsheet or other tools, databases are used to store large amount of data daily.
• Accurate: With the help of built-in functionalities in a database, we can easily validate.
• Easy to update data: Data Manipulation Languages (DML) such as SQL are used to update data in a database easily.
• Data integrity: With the help of built-in validity checks, we can ensure the consistency of data.

Programming paradigms reduce the complexity of programs. Every programmer must follow a paradigm approach when implementing their code. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages .

If you're a beginner, I would like to suggest learning object-oriented programming and functional programming first. Understand their concepts and try to apply them in your projects.

For example, if you're learning object-oriented programming, the pillars of object-oriented programming are Encapsulation, Abstraction, Inheritance and Polymorphism. Learn them by doing it. It will help you to understand their concepts on a deeper level, and your code will be less complex and more efficient and effective.

I strongly encourage you to read more related articles on programming paradigms. I hope this article helped you.

Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions.

You can contact and connect with me on Twitter @ThanoshanMV .

Thank you for reading.

Happy Coding!

• Akhil Bhadwal. (2019). Functional Programming: Concepts, Advantages, Disadvantages, and Applications
• Alena Holligan. (2016). When to use OOP over procedural coding
• The Saylor Foundation. (n.d.). Advantages and Disadvantages of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
• What is a Database | Oracle. (2019).

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Programming languages

How to Write a Computer Programming Essay

Programming is an essential part of today’s technologically driven life. It improves the usability of computers and the internet, as well as machine data processing. You couldn’t be reading this text right now if there were no programmers, and hence no applications like Microsoft Office, Google Drive, or Windows. Below is all about computer programming.

What Is The Definition Of Computer Programming?

Computer programming tries to produce a set of instructions that may be used to automate different activities in a system like a computer, video game console, or even a mobile phone. Because our everyday lives are increasingly reliant on technology, computer programming is both a necessary and a difficult skill to master. As a result, if you want to start a job as a programmer, or need a custom essay on programming, your first prerequisite is to be a diligent worker.

1. Computer Programming: An Introduction

A program is a set of instructions written in a specific language that the computer can comprehend and use to solve the issue it has been given. It is the mechanism for directing and controlling the entire computer process. The term “programming” refers to the process of creating a computer program.

A program should be saved on media that the computer can understand. For this, punched cards are commonly utilized. Each computer understands a single language, referred to as “machine language.”

Each computer has its machine language, which includes the usage of numerical codes. Writing a program in this language is tough. Other languages have been created to overcome this problem.

These Can Be Classified Into Two Categories:

1. Machine oriented languages

2. Problem-oriented languages

A machine-oriented language can only be used on a computer that was built for it. The alphabetic codes in this language are known as numeric codes. Unmemoric codes are thus easier to remember than numeric codes, and writing a program in this language is thus easier.

A machine-oriented language is focused on a certain computer rather than a specific issue. Problem-oriented languages have been created to overcome this challenge. These languages make it easy to develop programs. They’re sometimes referred to as high-level languages.

These languages must also be translated before they may be used. In this situation, the translation program is referred to as a “computer program.” It is a standard translation application developed and distributed by computer makers.

It’s a program that converts programs written in languages other than the machine code of a particular computer into instructions that the computer can understand. The language barrier between humans and computers has been broken down as a result of this.

2. Standard Programs

As a sales technique, computer makers provide pre-made programs that are used by a large number of customers at no additional cost. Standard programs are those that are created in a standard way format for applications that can be utilized by a large number of people.

3. Computer Programming Debugging

In the first place, only a small percentage of programs are accurate. In most cases, the software has mistakes. Debugging a program is the process of eliminating these mistakes (or bugs). In a program, there are two sorts of mistakes that a programmer must deal with. Syntax and logical mistakes are two types of errors.

4. System Of Binary Codes

It is a technique of expressing numerical value using a two-number numbering system. There are just two digits in this system: 1 and 0. When supply is depleted, the zero digits are utilized as an emergency digit. Because the quantity of one digit quickly depletes, the usage of zero is quite common. Thus, data is represented in a binary coding system using 0s and ls, and this system is utilized to represent data on a computer.

5. Numeral System

There are 10 numbers in this system: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0. When all other numbers from 1 to 9 have been utilized, the tenth digit zero is used as an emergency digit. The zero digits should be utilized methodically, starting with the first digit (10), then the second digit (20), the third digit (30), and so on. As a result, the decimal system’s base is 10.

Scanners are devices that allow you to enter data directly into your computer without having to type it in manually.

Flow Chart:

A flow chart depicts the steps that must be followed to solve an issue. The operational instructions are put in boxes with arrows connecting them to show the execution sequence. These diagrams assist in the creation of programs and are easier to grasp than a narrative explanation at a glance. A flow chart, also known as a flow diagram, is a graphic that depicts a process.

6. Ddp Stands For Distributed Data Processing

DDP is a system in which computation and other resources are distributed among several locations rather than being concentrated in a single location. The locations where computers are installed are linked.

There is some kind of communication link between the places where the computer resources and users are located in this system. A distributed data processing system can be effectively used by manufacturing, trade, or service organization such as banking.

Through the internet, any database in any part of the world may be linked. The term “internet” refers to a collection of various networks. The most significant benefit of the internet is the ability to access information from anywhere on the globe.

It’s an information system that helps people communicate within a company, especially between departments, divisions, and regional offices that are spread out throughout the country. It makes information more accessible and lowers the expense of documentation. The amount of time it takes to find information is likewise lowered.

7. Generations Of Computers:

Each computer generation sees the introduction of significantly enhanced hardware technology, resulting in significant improvements in processing speeds, data storage capacity, and versatility over prior generations, as well as changes in software features.

The majority of today’s computers are referred to as fourth-generation computers, however, fifth-generation machines with more sophisticated technologies are also available.

In data transmission, a modem is an encoding and decoding device. In a data communication system, it transforms a digital computer signal to an analog telephone signal and back.

The Program That Has Been Saved:

The control unit of the central processing unit (CPU) commands the stored program, which allows the computer to process data automatically without constant human interaction at various stages of processing.

8. Custom-made Software Vs. Ready-made Software

Standard programs that are used by a large number of people are known as ready-made software. Computer firms create such programmers for the advantage of a large number of consumers. Ready-made software is less expensive and takes less time to implement. Modification of such software is expensive and not always doable.

Custom software, on the other hand, is created in response to a user’s particular needs. A custom-made program takes a long time to build and is far more expensive than ready-made software. In custom-made software, incorporating changes is simple, and the hardware setup typically does not need to be altered.

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Essay on computer programming.

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The below mentioned essay provides a note on computer programming:- 1. Introduction to Computer Programming 2. Standard Computer Programmes 3. Debugging 4. Binary Code System 5. Decimal System 6. Distributed Data Processing (DDP) 7. Computer Generations 8. Ready-Made Software and Custom-Made Software.

• Essay on Ready-Made Software and Custom-Made Software

Essay # 1. Introduction to Computer Programming:

Programme is a sequence of instructions written in a proper language through which the computer can understand and solve the problem given to it. It is the method by which the whole computing process is directed and controlled. Preparing a programme for the computer is known as “programming”.

A programme should be recorded on a proper medium which the computer can process. Usually punched cards are used for this purpose. Each computer can understand one language which is known as “machine language”.

Machine language contains use of numeral codes and each computer has its own machine language. It is very difficult to write a programme in this language. To obliterate this difficulty, some other languages have been developed.

These can be grouped into following two categories:

Thus, in a binary code system the data is represented in terms of 0’s and l’s and this system is used to represent data on a computer.

ADVERTISEMENTS: (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Essay # 5. Decimal System :

In this system there are ten digits— 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0. The tenth digit zero is called emergency digit and is to be used when all other digits from 1 to 9 are exhausted. The zero digit is to be used in a systematic way i.e. first with first digit (10), then with second digit (20) and then with third digit (30) and so on and so forth. Thus, the base of decimal system is 10.

Scanners are devices which allow direct data entry into the computer without doing any manual data entry.

Flow Chart :

A flow chart illustrates the sequence of operations to be performed to arrive at the solution of a problem. The operating instructions are placed in boxes which are connected by arrows to indicate the order of execution. These charts are an aid to writing programmes and are easier to understand at a glance than a narrative description. A flow charts also known as a flow diagram.

While preparing flow charts, certain conventions have come into use as given below:

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Crafting the Perfect Essay: A Programming Tutorial Approach

The connection between programming and essay writing.

At first glance, programming tutorials and essay writing might seem to occupy completely different spaces in the academic world. Yet, these two practices share more in common than you might think. Writing an essay can be akin to programming; both require meticulous planning, organizing thoughts (or codes) in a logical manner, and delivering a clear, concise output.

Just as you may seek a legit essay writing service when you need help crafting your essay, you might also turn to a programming tutorial when you’re stuck on a coding problem. Both provide structured guidelines and assistance to help you reach your goal.

Treating Your Essay like a Programming Project

Writing an essay can be broken down into five main steps, much like the process of creating a software program:

• Understanding the Task : The first step is akin to understanding the software requirements. In essay writing, you need to understand the question or prompt, just as in programming, you have to understand what the software should accomplish.
• Planning Your Response : Once you understand the task, plan your response. In essay writing, this involves brainstorming and outlining. Similarly, in programming, you design the software architecture before writing any code.
• Writing : The third step involves writing the body of your essay, just as you would write the code for your software. Each paragraph in an essay is like a block of code; it serves a specific purpose and fits into the overall structure.
• Revising and Editing : After writing, it’s time to revise and edit. In essay writing, this means refining your language and ensuring your argument is sound. In programming, this is similar to debugging the code and making improvements for better efficiency.
• Final Review : Finally, conduct a final review of your work. For essay writing, this includes proofreading and checking the formatting. For programming, it’s like testing the software to ensure it works as expected.

When to Seek Professional Help

While learning to write an essay or learning to program can be a rewarding process, it can also be challenging. That’s why resources exist to help you. If you need assistance with your essay, don’t hesitate to reach out to the best college essay writing service . These services can provide guidance and support, much like a programming tutorial can help you navigate a tricky coding problem.

It’s perfectly okay to hire an essay writer if you’re struggling with your workload. Just as in programming, where it’s normal to seek out a tutor or additional resources, it’s entirely acceptable to get help with your essays.

In choosing a service, don’t forget to read about the Best Essay Writing Services Online and consider the factors that are important to you, such as cost, quality, and reliability. There are services tailored to different needs, whether you’re looking to buy a cheap essay or want specific Essay help in UK .

Writing an essay is a process that requires a systematic approach, much like programming. By breaking down the task into manageable chunks, planning your response, and seeking help when necessary, you can write an essay that truly shines. Remember, you can always turn to a cheap essay writing service or an essay writing guide to ensure that you’re on the right track.

Finally, when you’re ready to share your masterpiece with the world, whether it’s an innovative piece of software or an engaging essay, don’t forget the final step – reviewing and polishing your work to ensure it’s the best it can be. Much like the satisfying feeling of a code running smoothly, there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of a well-crafted essay. It’s all part of the exciting journey of learning, whether you’re delving into the world of programming or exploring the art of essay writing.

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Boeing’s No Good, Never-Ending Tailspin Might Take NASA With It

By Clive Irving

Mr. Irving is an investigative journalist who has covered aviation and aerospace for more than 30 years.

Fifty-five years ago, when humans first walked on the moon, the Apollo 11 astronauts left Earth through the massive power of the Saturn V rocket. The greatest punch came from the rocket’s first stage, which provided 7.5 million pounds of thrust. The awesome spectacle of that first stage was thanks to the work by engineers at Boeing.

Fast forward to the present day, and here is a new spectacle in space provided by Boeing. It’s not awesome.

Two astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, arrived at the International Space Station on June 6 , expecting to stay for just over a week. Now they won’t be heading back to Earth until February. Their ride was on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, now deemed by NASA to be too risky for the return trip because of a host of troublesome technical glitches.

NASA spin doctors object to headlines declaring that the astronauts are “stranded” or “stuck” in space, pointing out correctly that they are not in jeopardy.

But make no mistake: This is a fiasco. And not just because of the strain it puts on Ms. Williams and Mr. Wilmore and their families. Boeing’s engineering woes extend beyond Starliner; they threaten NASA’s bigger goals of going back to the moon through its Artemis program, for which Boeing has become an essential partner. I was told that a number of retired astronauts are increasingly troubled by Boeing’s performance. This loss in confidence helps put the entire Artemis program into a new state of uncertainty.

Consider the fact that on Aug. 7, Steve Stich, the manager for NASA’s commercial crew program, used the term “multiple failure” to describe the possible concerns he and his team were contemplating about the spacecraft’s propulsion system.

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First-Year Requirements

In addition to your UC application, we take both your academic record and your personal experiences into consideration during the review process . At UCLA, we seek students who have excelled academically and gained valuable perspective from the personal experiences that have helped shape their lives.

Read on to find out more.

The Criteria We Consider

When reviewing an application, we implement a holistic review process, which includes looking at some of the following criteria:

• Achievement in high school or college coursework
• Personal qualities
• Likely contributions to the intellectual and cultural vitality of our campus
• Achievement in academic enrichment programs
• Other achievements in any field of intellectual or creative endeavor, including the performing arts, athletics, community service, etc.

Academic Preparation

You must complete 15 A-G courses with at least 11 courses finished prior to the beginning of your last year of high school. To be competitive in the UCLA admission process, applicants should present an academic profile much stronger than any minimum UC admission requirements.  See below for a listing of the A-G requirements:

• 2 years history/social science
• 4 years of college-preparatory English
• 3 years of mathematics (4 years recommended)
• 2 years of laboratory science (3 years recommended)
• 2 years of language other than English (3 years recommended)
• 1 year of visual and performing arts (if available)
• 1 year of college-preparatory elective

Keep in mind that there is no single academic path we expect all students to follow. However, competitive applicants earn high marks in the most rigorous curriculum available to them.   Each application for admission is reviewed within the context of courses available to that student. If a particular required subject is not available, we’ll consider your application without it.

Standardized Testing (SAT/ACT)

UCLA will not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarship purposes.

If you choose to submit test scores as part of your application, they may be used as an alternative method of fulfilling minimum requirements for eligibility or for course placement after you enroll.

UCLA’s ACT number: 0448 UCLA’s College Board (SAT) number: 4837

Personal Insight Questions

These personal questions are just that — personal. This is your chance to augment the information elsewhere in your application and give us more insight into you during the review process.  Our hope is to hear your true, authentic voice in your responses.   As a first-year applicant, you may respond to four of eight questions. Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words. Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you. You should select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Because we receive more applicants than we have room to accept, admitted students usually have academic achievements far higher than the minimum requirements. So, to be “competitive” is to be among the strongest achieving students to apply.

We look for students who take advantage of the academic opportunities available to them. If you have advanced courses, we encourage you to take advantage of them. The University of California adds extra weight to grades received in UC-certified honors, AP, IB and transferable college courses.

We do not require or accept letters of recommendation in our process and we do not collect transcripts at the point of application . However, once admitted, students are required to submit official transcripts f rom any high school or college they have attended . Some professional schools may request a letter of recommendation as part of their supplemental application process.

We do not offer admission interviews. Applicants are considered for admission based upon the information they submit in the UC application . However, some majors in our  specialty schools require a supplemental application as part of their admission process. Supplemental applications may involve an audition, portfolio submission and/or letters of recommendation. Find out more from the supplemental applications page.

Supplemental Applications

Of course, a strong academic performance combined with sustained, meaningful involvement in extracurricular activities is the ideal. But if it comes down to a choice between excelling in your coursework or your extracurricular activities, choose your academics.

UCLA will honor full IGETC certification from a first-year student if the requirements were completed before entering UC. Partial IGETC, however, will not be accepted from entering first-years at any UC campus and IGETC is not recommended for applicants to the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Procedural Programming Languages Cause and Effect Essay

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Programming languages are used by software developers to design applications that can be run on computers. The choice of programming language depends on various factors including the “response time requirements of the system, time restriction of the project, and budget allocated for development and maintenance support” (Reilly, 2003).

Other determining factors are the requirement for coding the subroutines in varying languages and the choice between a compiled and an interpreted language (Reilly, 2003).

Object-oriented programming languages provide designers with a modern and powerful model with the capability of specifying data structures and operations that govern them. Examples of object-oriented programming (OOP) include Visual Basic, Python, C++ and Java. Despite the numerous benefits, OOP is still not as popular in business today like procedural programming language (Reilly, 2003).

Procedural programming languages like COBOL, FORTRAN and BASIC, use a simple paradigm whereby each program comprises a starting state, a list of operations, and an ending point. A section of the program can be split and re-used in the program to make the design work simple.

Procedural programming languages are used for business-oriented applications in commercial data processing (Khan, 2003). Common Business-Oriented Language (COBOL), for instance, is ideal for designing business applications since they can be easily integrated in Web-oriented business processes.

As a compiled language, COBOL uses efficient code that can be executed many times after the first compilation, which makes its programs more efficient and better performing than others.

The translation cost for compiled languages is incurred once, unlike interpreted languages which incur huge costs due to the several stages involved every time the application is run. This makes programming with COBOL cheaper than using other languages (Stern, Stern, & Ley, 2003).

COBOL was introduced in the 1960s. The entry of newer programming languages that make use of the latest computer features has led to transformation of COBOL for it to remain competitive. For instance, the development and deployment of the Net Express software package by Micro Focus Ltd has provided an ideal environment for COBOL coders. “This makes it easy and fast to build and modernize COBOL enterprise components and business applications for the Web, client/server platforms and Microsoft’s.

Net framework” (Khan, 2003). The application allows programmers to either modify or create COBOL programs without additional coding, which increases its use in business processes. Another development in COBOL was the development of a Technical Report (TR) that supports XML in COBOL applications.

Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a vital part for the future of Information Technology. XML permits end-users to access and manipulate intricate documents through COBOL applications on any PC.

Companies supporting COBOL, such as Micro Focus and IBM, prepared the TR to make so that COBOL could remain viable in business processes programming. The TR standardized the process of handling XML as both an input and output for COBOL applications (Khan, 2003).

KOBOL is another development for COBOL. It was developed by theKompany.com to permit programmers to build and manipulate their programs. “KOBOL uses IDE to compile COBOL code into executables that can run on various platforms” (Stern, Stern, & Ley, 2003). This allows COBOL programmers to continue making COBOL applications for business processes.

While there are newer programming languages that are more exciting than COBOL and other procedural programming languages, COBOL is still in use today in the business world. Consequently, COBOL is still studied in higher education institutions, in order to serve the existing and new markets.

Hence, the modifications of COBOL platforms to run on multiple platforms have prolonged the use of procedural programming languages on businesses today (Stern, Stern, & Ley, 2003).

Khan, M. B. (2003). COBOL. In Bidgoli, Hossein (Ed.). Encyclopedia of Information Systems , 2, 113-126.

Reilly, E. D. (2003). Milestones in Computer Science and Information Technology. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

Stern, N., Stern, R. A., & Ley, J. P. (2003). COBOL for the 21st Century 10th Edition. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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IvyPanda. (2019, June 18). Procedural Programming Languages. https://ivypanda.com/essays/procedural-programming-language/

"Procedural Programming Languages." IvyPanda , 18 June 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/procedural-programming-language/.

IvyPanda . (2019) 'Procedural Programming Languages'. 18 June.

IvyPanda . 2019. "Procedural Programming Languages." June 18, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/procedural-programming-language/.

1. IvyPanda . "Procedural Programming Languages." June 18, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/procedural-programming-language/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Procedural Programming Languages." June 18, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/procedural-programming-language/.

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Traditional Pathway Program Admission Requirements

Admission to the University of Colorado College of Nursing's Traditional bachelor of science program (TRAD) is competitive. To keep the selection process fair, admission requirements are definitive and applied to each application in the same manner. Please keep in mind that applications are not reviewed until they are received by the application deadline and coded as ‘verified’ in NursingCAS.

Students requiring an F-1 visa are encouraged to contact the Office of International Admission prior to starting the TRAD application

Minimum TRAD Admissions Requirements

How to Apply

• Earned grades in the prerequisite courses, as detailed below. These courses must be earned from a regionally accredited institution with a grade of C or higher. A minimum 3.0 prerequisite GPA is required. This prerequisite GPA only includes the highest grade attempts for courses listed on transcripts at the time of application. If your outstanding course(s) drops your prerequisite GPA to below a 3.0, your offer of admission will be withdrawn. Prerequisite courses must be completed within 10 years of the application deadline . We strongly suggest a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. Note that the overall GPA calculation includes all previous course attempts from regionally accredited institutions, regardless of the year courses were completed. Grade forgiveness and repeat/delete policies are not honored for the overall cumulative GPA.

Applicants without a bachelor's degree are required to complete a total of 60 semester credits (or 90 quarter credits) from a regionally accredited institution. You may take a maximum of 18 semester credits (12 quarter credits), the semester before you start the program. Of these 18 semester credits (12 quarter credits), only one course can be from Anatomy, Chemistry, Physiology, or Microbiology.

The required courses include: (view BS prerequisite descriptions and track your prerequisite progress )

Watch our video guide on prerequisite information.

• Human Anatomy (or A&P I)
• Human Physiology (A&P II)
• Microbiology
• General Chemistry*
• College Algebra
• General Sociology
• General Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Cultural Anthropology or Multicultural Studies
• English Composition II
• Creative Arts
• Two from Foreign Language, History, Microeconomics, Philosophy, or Political Science (courses must be from two different content areas)

*One of these science lectures must have an accompanying lab.

Note: Prerequisites alone often do not total 60 semester (or 90 quarter) credit hours. Some electives may be necessary. Elective credit hours may be selected from most major academic disciplines. Examples of exceptions are commercial or vocational courses, doctrinal courses in religion, and physical education activity courses.

Applicants with a bachelor's degree are only required to complete five prerequisite courses listed below. Only two of the following prerequisites may be taken the semester before you begin the program: 1) statistics and 2) one course from anatomy, chemistry, physiology, or microbiology.

• General Chemistry

Note: Degrees have no expiration date, but need to be posted on your transcripts the semester before you start the program.

• International credential evaluation for degrees earned outside of the United States. To request an evaluation of a foreign degree, a prospective student should submit copies of their diploma and transcripts to [email protected] .
• English language proficiency (see Additional Requirements below)
• Letter of good academic standing if you have previously attended or are transferring from another nursing program.
• Meet the minimum requirements outlined in the Technical Standards for admission, progression, and graduation.

How to Apply/Application Materials

• Complete the application and pay the required application fee. Note that there are two fees associated with the application (NursingCAS and CU Nursing). Both must be paid for an application to be considered complete.
• Submit official transcripts from all institutions attended directly to NursingCAS. Official transcripts from all institutions must be sent regardless of years attended, the number of credits enrolled, or grades earned. This includes any concurrent/dual enrollment courses you took in high school; you must submit official transcripts for any post-secondary school(s) from which you earned college credit while in high school. Submitting transcripts is a two-step process:
• Order your official transcripts in NursingCAS and submit them directly to NursingCAS.
• Enter all courses from each transcript into NursingCAS; this includes the school name, course name, course code, grade, credit number, and term completed. Applicants have the option to pay for this service offered by NursingCAS and is available on the transcript entry page in the application. Failing to accurately report can result in an application being withdrawn from admissions consideration.
• Three professional or academic references (at least one academic reference is recommended). The NursingCAS application will ask for the contact information for your three references. References will be contacted by NursingCAS to complete an online Likert-scale reference form, which is then submitted directly back to NursingCAS. Letters of reference are not accepted.
• Personal statement responding to the following: “Given your personal background, describe your interest in nursing and what makes you special or unique.” Statements must be no more than 500 words, 12 point font, Times New Roman, double spaced, with one-inch margins.
• Official TOEFL scores reports (international applicants only - see Additional Requirements below).

When to Apply

• The application process often takes several weeks (including entering courses into NursingCAS, receiving recommenders' ratings, and ordering all official transcripts [domestic and foreign]), therefore applicants should allow themselves ample time to complete each section. We recommend applicants submit their applications 4 to 6 weeks prior to the application deadline. For details on deadlines, refer to undergraduate application deadlines .
• Applications must be submitted (i.e., in a Received status) by the application deadline. After the application deadline, there is a consecutive 10-day grace period which allows for: all references to reach a Completed status, all official transcripts to be received by NursingCAS, and the application to reach Verified Status. After this grace period, applications not in a Verified status and/or without these required supporting documents will not move forward in the application process. Learn more about your application status .

What to do After Applying

• Once any additional course(s) currently being taken are completed, a final official transcript must be received in NursingCAS, and course information manually entered, using the Academic Update feature. See more information on the Academic Update process and timeframe in NursingCAS.
• Make sure your application is listed in Verified status. Verified status means the application has been received and transcripts have been delivered and determined to be accurate and complete. Learn more about your application status .
• You must be available for the interview and orientation dates listed in the NursingCAS application. The interview dates are not negotiable.
• If any academic history (grades, courses, student standing, etc.) has changed after your application has reached Verified status, you may do an Academic Update in NursingCAS. See more information on the Academic Update process and timeframe in NursingCAS.

Interview Selection

A select number of students will be invited to interview for a position in the TRAD cohort. The admission interview consists of program presentations, individual and group interview activities.

Admissions Notifications

All admission notifications are delivered by email to the address listed in NursingCAS. Admission decisions are generally admitted, waitlist, or deny. All admits are given 10 consecutive days to respond to the offer of admission. Failure to respond to the offer will result in administrative withdrawal. An enrollment deposit is not required.

Students placed on the waitlist are notified by phone if space becomes available. The waitlist ranks are not provided.

Pre-enrollment Requirements

All students at CU Nursing are admitted conditionally pending successful completion/passing of the pre-enrollment requirements including, but not limited to background checks, drug screens (including marijuana), immunizations, etc. Prospective students who have criminal convictions (or pending criminal activity) are encouraged to contact an admissions representative prior to applying. If criminal history or a pending criminal charge prohibits the possibility of clinical placements, admission will be rescinded/denied.

Admitted students should not start any of the pre-enrollment requirements until properly informed and instructed to do so. Many of the pre-enrollment requirements are timed and starting items prematurely can result in a financial loss to the student.

Admitted students are considered CU Nursing students and are held to all policy and procedures that govern the university and college.

Additional Requirements

Transfer credit requirements, transfer credit.

All of your prerequisite classes will be considered transfer credit. This college level credit may be accepted by the University of Colorado if:

• It has been earned at a regionally accredited college or university.
• A grade of C (not C-) or better has been attained.
• The credit is for courses appropriate to the degree sought at this institution.
• It is not vocational-technical course work.
• It is not remedial course work

Advanced Placement (AP) Credit

• Only specific prerequisites and electives can be met using AP credit; view the AP Credit Transfer Guide .
• The minimum score shown is required to transfer the AP credit to meet prerequisites and electives.
• The official transcript (score report) from the College Board is required to show the score(s) earned. This document needs to be sent directly to the University of Colorado College of Nursing.
• To ensure that your official score report is received by the College of Nursing, please request that the College Board mail the document to:

University of Colorado College of Nursing Office of Admissions 13120 E. 19th Avenue, Mailstop C288-6 Aurora, CO 80045

International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit

• Only specific prerequisites and electives can be met using IB credit. View the IB Credit Transfer Guide .
• The minimum score shown is required to transfer the IB credit to meet prerequisites and electives.
• Instructions for ordering your IB diploma are available through on the IB Requesting transcripts and certificates page .
• To ensure that your official score report is received by the College of Nursing, please request that the International Baccalaureate program mail the document to:

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Credit

• Only specific prerequisites and electives can be met using CLEP credit; view the CLEP Credit Transfer Guide .
• The minimum score shown is required to transfer the CLEP credit to meet prerequisites and electives.
• The official transcript (score report) from the College Board is required to show the score(s) earned.
• To ensure that your official score report is received by the College of Nursing, please use the following school code when ordering the report from College Board: 5281.

Pass/Fail Credit

• COVID-19 Exception for Prerequisite Courses - The CU College of Nursing's strong recommendation is that students choose to have standard grades listed on their transcript and not the Pass/Fail grade option. However, for courses completed in Spring 2020 only, Passing (P) or Satisfactory (S) grades may be accepted to fulfill prerequisite courses, provided the P or S indicates that the student has earned a C grade or higher. For GPA calculation purposes, an approved P or S course grade will be converted to the lowest score associated with the P or S by the sending institution (e.g. a C grade will be calculated as a 2.0). For spring 2020 grades only, the student, via the sending institution, will have the option of submitting the underlying/actual grade earned, e.g. A, B, etc., which will be used in the GPA calculation for review purposes. There will not be a cap to the total number of prerequisite credits that may be taken on a P/F or S/U basis for spring 2020 coursework, provided that the aforementioned criteria are satisfied.

Foreign Transcripts and Study Abroad Credits

Transcripts for all foreign (non-study abroad) coursework must be submitted directly to the University of Colorado College of Nursing for evaluation through the Office of International Affairs. Transcripts for study abroad coursework from a non-U.S. institution may be required depending on how foreign coursework is posted on the domestic (receiving institution) transcript. If all course information (course title, credits hours and grades) is posted to the domestic transcript, applicants do not need to submit a separate transcript from the study abroad institution. If any course information is incomplete, or the grades are posed as Pass/Fail, a transcript for the study abroad coursework will need to be submitted directly to the University of Colorado College of Nursing Office of Admissions & Student Affairs .

English Language Proficiency

Due to the clinical nature of the nursing profession, all students must meet the following communication standards, as outlined in the Technical Standards of our Student Handbook :

• A student must be able to communicate clearly and effectively in English with clients, teachers and all members of the health care team. Written and oral communication must use standard, professional medical terminology.
• He/she must communicate with clients clearly and effectively in English to elicit information regarding history, emotional status and activity, and to perceive nonverbal communications.
• Communication includes speech, hearing, reading, writing and computer literacy.
• A student must be able to clearly and effectively report in English to members of the health care team. Additionally, students must be able to relay appropriate information to clients, as well as teach, explain, direct and counsel a wide variety of individuals.
• In some instances the student will be required to provide clear, direct communication in English during highly stressful, crisis situations. These skills necessitate a strong command of the English language and prompt, timely interpretation of pertinent patient data.
• Students must be able to communicate online in a timely, professional manner, e.g., enter an electronic medical record immediately after the patient visit.

If your primary language is not English, or if you are an International Student, you will need to demonstrate required English language proficiency by meeting one of the following criteria:

• You are a citizen of a country whose official language is English including Australia, Belize, Botswana, Canada (except Quebec), Commonwealth Caribbean, Ghana, United Kingdom, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
• You have obtained a total score of at least 560 on the paper-based TOEFL and 50 or above on the Test of Spoken English (TSE); a score of 83 on the Internet-based TOEFL with 26 or above on the spoken English section. For other minimum subscores see internationaladmissions.ucdenver.edu . The College of Nursing TOEFL Exam Code is 3377. Be sure to use this code when registering for the exam to ensure that we will receive the results.
• You have obtained a total score of 6.5 on IELTS with a minimum speaking subscore of 8. Official IELTS scores must be sent directly to the College of Nursing.
• You have graduated from the University of Colorado Denver’s ESL Academy.
• You have graduated from a US/UK accredited school abroad with English as the medium of instruction.
• You have earned a Bachelor’s degree in the U.S. or you have successfully completed a minimum of 2 semesters of full-time study in a master’s program at an accredited institution in the U.S.

Previous Enrollment in a Nursing Program

Applicants who were previously enrolled in another nursing program (prerequisite courses excluded) are required to submit a letter of good standing from the previous school indicating that the student left in good academic standing. Documentation can be sent to [email protected] and will also need to be included in the NursingCAS application profile.

Technical Standards

All College of Nursing students must meet the minimum requirements outlined in the Technical Standards for admission, progression and graduation.

Healthcare Experience Recommended

Healthcare experience is not an admissions requirement for the Traditional Pathway. However, it is strongly recommended that applicants have exposure to the nursing field so that they better understand the expectations for this career path. Applicants are encouraged to include information about healthcare experience in their resume and the Experiences section in NursingCAS.

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Our First Program Manager Dr. James Blake Looks Back

By James T. Blake, Ph.D.

In June 1999, Dr. James Blake was appointed by Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Command (STRICOM) as ICT’s first Program Manager and was with us until March 2003 . After a distinguished career, including Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI); Head of Contracting Activity (HCA); and SVP, Integrated Training Solutions, Cubic Global Defense (CGD), Dr. Blake is now an independent consultant / senior mentor (full bio below). After honoring us with his presence at ICT 25 , Dr. Blake looks back at his involvement with the UARC over the years.

I was asked to comment on how I got involved in the University of Southern California (USC) research activities. Wow. That was a quarter century ago. I was amazed they remembered me, and I was honored to be asked. So, I will give it a go.

In the mid-to-late nineties, there was a lot of excitement about this nexus of military, academia, and the entertainment industry. It appeared that among other things it offered the prospect of revolutionizing military training. In the Army, the Simulation, Training & Instrumentation Command (STRICOM) was the premier provider of training solutions. They were the procurement part of the triad of Requirements, Funding, and Buying.

JOINING STRICOM

STRICOM certainly had a keen interest in improving the Army’s training systems and devices. But they had no experience managing a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) . The Commanding General at the time was Bill Bond and the command was looking for someone to manage this new entity called the Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT). They wanted someone with a military background, an advanced degree, and perhaps more importantly experience in basic and applied research.

I checked all these boxes. I retired from the military (27 years of experience) as the Army’s Senior Uniformed Army Scientist with my last two assignments at Georgia Tech and the Army Research Laboratory. I also had industry experience focused on modeling and simulation. So, I was asked if I could help. I was a researcher at Texas A&M (TAMU) at that time, and I agreed to become an Intergovernmental Personnel Act employee (essentially, on loan to the Army from TAMU) to be the first Program Manager at STRICOM for ICT. 

To me this was a very exciting opportunity to build a research portfolio from scratch. The program was to have Basic and Applied Research funding, something STRICOM had not previously controlled. But this was something I had managed while on active duty, and I looked forward to the challenge.

DEVELOPING A RESEARCH PLAN

Starting with a blank sheet of paper and broad guidance from Army Senior leaders including Secretary of the Army, Louis Caldera , and the Chief Scientist, Dr. Mike Andrews , we had to decide on research areas and then develop specific programmatic efforts that supported those areas. Of course, at the beginning we needed staff and office space. And then an official opening and statement of vision that all three parties (military, academia, and Hollywood) could embrace and support. This was accomplished in good order.

My more enduring task was to develop the specific projects and accompanying contract actions to implement the program. ICT was eager to get going and the leadership at the time was great to work with including Richard Lindheim , William Swartout , James Korris , and Cheryl Birch . On my end, I had an engineer (Alesya Paschal and then Karen Williams) and a contracting officer (Melissa Fauber). And Major General Bond’s and later Brigadier General Steve Seay’s support. And sometimes – top cover with the Army leadership. There was clearly a learning curve for ICT and for me. But success was on everybody’s mind.

At the executive level, I worked with the Army senior leaders to flesh out Executive Advisory and Technical Advisory Boards and establish a battle rhythm. At the operational level, I worked with the ICT leadership and researchers to make sure the agreed projects met the cost, schedule, and performance metrics established for the various projects. Many of the projects were by nature multi-year in scope, but we collectively sought to produce some demonstrable progress in each area. Products included refereed research papers, demonstrations, and presentations to various audiences.

ENTER HOLLYWOOD

Part of my time I spent learning Hollywood terms, and I gave as much as I got. 

After all, I was fluent in Army lingo and the current state of Army training devices. I took many folks from the ICT and supporting writers and directors to military installations to see how the Army conducts training. 

Sites visited included Fort Benning (now Fort Moore), GA, the Home of the Infantry, and the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, CA. The entourage got to ride in military vehicles and shoot real bullets. 

This led to several proposals to improve the training experience – exactly what the Army hoped for. One device developed was the Joint Fires & Effects Trainer System (JFETS) located at Fort Sill, OK. This transformed the way we trained Soldiers to control indirect fire like artillery.

IMPACT OF 9-11

While I was at ICT, 9-11 happened and changed my outlook. I wanted a more direct impact on supporting the military. 

About that time, the long-time Deputy Commander of STRICOM, Jim Skurka, decided to retire, so I applied for that position. After many months, I was selected for the job. 

About the time I joined STRICOM, it was reorganized as a Program Executive Office (PEO). STRICOM was a subordinate element of the Army Materiel Command and the PEOs reported to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) (ASA(ALT)). Some of the engineering staff were assigned to the Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) under AMC; ICT management moved to RDECOM too. It was no longer under the wing of PEO STRI. RDECOM has since moved from AMC to the Army Futures Command (AFC) and been renamed the Combat Capabilities Development Command.

I went on to become the PEO and served for nearly a decade. Perhaps I am the longest serving Army PEO. And during that time, I kept an overwatch of the ICT because they continued to provide a fresh look at the way the Army trains.

It was great to be invited to the 25th Anniversary of ICT . I saw many familiar faces and some new ones. 

They are in a different building. But one thing has not changed – they continue to make a difference. In fact, while I was at the festivities, USC was notified by the Army that ICT was approved for another 5-year contract.

Congratulations – I look forward to following your contributions to basic and applied research that benefit the Army and the Nation.

James T. Blake, Ph.D.

Dr. Blake is an Independent Consultant and Senior Mentor with Military, Government, Academia, and Small-to-Large Business Experience. He retired from industry as the Senior Vice President for Integrated Training Solutions at Cubic Global Defense (CGD), where he had P&L responsibility for supporting U.S. military programs, Foreign Military Sales, and customers with industry-leading training products and services. Prior to joining CGD, he served as the Program Executive Officer for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) and the Head of Contracting Activity (HCA).

Dr. Blake served as the PEO for nine years. He was responsible for providing materiel solutions and services in modeling, simulation, training and test/instrumentation to support the Soldier. PEO STRI annually executed a multi-billion-dollar program and supported a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program for forty countries. He holds level-three certifications in six acquisition career fields.

He was the Deputy Program Executive Officer prior to assuming the duties as the PEO. His prior government assignment was at the Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Command (STRICOM) as the Program Manager for the Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT), the internationally recognized University Affiliated Research Center for Advanced Modeling and Simulation.

Dr. Blake is also a veteran. He entered the military as a Private in the U.S. Army and completed his military career as a Colonel. He is a dual-rated Master Army Aviator. During his military career, Dr. Blake served in many positions and locations, including aviation operations in Vietnam. His last military assignment was as the Army’s Senior Uniformed Army Scientist.

His awards include Induction into the National Center for Simulation (NCS) Hall of Fame in recognition of significant contributions to advancements in modeling and simulation. The National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA) Governor’s Award for Lifetime Achievement in Training & Simulation. The Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Award, which reflects continuous leadership commitment for superior organizational achievement and a strong dedication to development of the workforce.

Dr. Blake is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Defense Systems Management College, and the U.S. Army War College. His civilian education includes a B.S. degree in Accounting from the University of Tampa, an M.S. degree in Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Ph.D. degree in Computer Science from Duke University.

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Treasury, IRS and DOE announce full applications are open for Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Tax Credit

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IR-2024-228, Aug. 29, 2024

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Energy announced today that they received over 800 concept papers — project proposals — seeking a total of nearly $40 billion in tax credits, representing $200 billion in total project investments, for Round 2 of the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Tax Credit (48C) Program.

Of the nearly $40 billion, approximately $10.3 billion is from projects in designated energy communities census tracts.

Today, the IRS and DOE notified applicants on the 48C Portal that applications are now open and after initial review were encouraged to apply for the next stage of evaluation to determine which projects will receive a tax credit.

The IRS encouraged more than 450 projects across 46 states and the District of Columbia with over $22.5 billion in tax credits requested. Roughly $4.8 billion of the $22.5 billion in tax credits encouraged are in historic energy communities. The encouraged projects span large, medium and small businesses and non-profits, all of which must meet prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements to receive a 30% investment tax credit.

There is up to $6 billion in tax credit allocations for the second round for the 48C(e) program, including approximately $2.5 billion for projects located in 48C(e) designated energy communities.

Applicants who submitted a concept paper, whether they received an encourage or discourage letter, may now submit a full application on the 48C Portal. Applications are due by Friday, Oct. 18 11:59 pm Eastern time. Applicants are encouraged to use the application templates available on the 48C Portal.

DOE, IRS and UST will host a webinar for applicants on Monday, Sept. 16. The webinar registration link will be made available on the 48C landing page .

The 48C Program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, is designed to accelerate domestic clean energy manufacturing and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at industrial facilities. DOE is partnering with the Treasury Department and the IRS to implement the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Tax Credit (48C).

DOE’s Office of Manufacturing & Energy Supply Chains (MESC) manages the 48C Program on behalf of the Treasury Department and the IRS. At least $4 billion of the total $10 billion will be allocated for projects in designated § 48C energy communities — communities with closed coal mines or coal plants as defined in Appendix C of IRS Notice 2024-36 .

Learn more about the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit (48C) and the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit (48C) Program .