Interested in becoming a web application developer? Want to know more about the basics of computer science?
Those interested in computers will gain a high-level understanding of today’s hardware, software, and applications, as well as a modern view of ethics in the virtual realm with this introduction to computer science.
This guide to computer science will also include a history of computing, basics of computer architecture, and an overview of the internet.
Guide to the History of Computing
Early computers were punch card systems that took instructions from paper sheets. This is much more advanced than other methods of computing, such as an abacus, but still a far cry from today’s machines.
Many of the early computers would take up an entire room, and not until the invention of the personal computer did the average individual have the ability to use a computer at home or in a small office. Microsoft helped introduce the operating system as we know it, which would revolutionize the personal computer industry.
The invention of the microprocessor gave way to smaller and smaller computers with an explosion of processing power. A microprocessor is an integrated circuit, with millions of transistors that are interconnected to create a much more powerful processor.
What Is Computer Science?
Computer science is the study of computers and computational systems. It is the study of computer technology, both hardware and software.
Although computer programming is important, it is only one aspect of computer science. Web application development is one subsection of computer science.
What Is Web Application Development?
Web application development is the creation of programs that reside on network servers for users to access on the internet with the help of their devices. Web applications allow users to interact with programs on the internet, connect to back-end databases, and generate results that display locally on a browser.
There are two main categories of web application development, client-side coding and server-side coding.
What Is Client-Side Coding?
Client-side coding involves the creation of web applications that involve scripting technologies including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, to name a few. Essentially, client-side scripting is the act of running scripts on user devices within a browser.
What Is Server-Side Coding?
Server-side coding is code created by a web application developer that speaks to the web server and is not accessible by the general public. Some common server-side coding technologies include PHP, ASP, and Python.
Computer Science Hardware Guide
In order to program and develop web applications, one would start with a computer that includes an external hard drive, server, and the remote devices that will actively use the web application. Choosing the right operating system for the computer is important in web application development. The four most common operating systems include Chrome OS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Other hardware that a web application developer must become familiar with includes computer chips, CPU, and memory.
The computer chip is comprised of the processing and memory units of the computer. Each computer chip is constructed of silicon and metal. The computer chip is also called an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit has three main purposes: perform mathematical equations, move memory from one chip to another, and make decisions and create instructions based on those decisions.
Each integrated circuit contains many transistors making up a processor. There are tens of millions of transistors on one computer chip. A central processing unit (CPU) is the computer’s main processor. The CPU carries the instructions of a computer program by performing basic functions as specified by the program’s instruction.
Computer memory stores information for later use by the computer. Memory includes RAM and ROM. ROM is read-only memory that is not easily altered, not volatile, and is retained even after the power is switched off. RAM is random-access memory, is volatile, and is lost with the turning off of the computer power.
Computer Science Software Guide
There are a wide variety of software programs to develop web applications. The most common include Adobe Dreamweaver and WordPress.
Dreamweaver is one of the most popular offline web design and development applications. Dreamweaver uses quick and flexible coding to create, code, and manage dynamic web applications.
WordPress is a content management system used to build websites. It allows the web application developer to start with a template and add plug-ins to enhance the functionality. It also integrates with many third-party tools. These software programs allow users to interact on the internet.
A Brief History of the Internet
The internet allows computers and users to join a network that connects everyone together. No longer are users limited to the amount of ports on a traditional network server. Now users can interact and connect with everyone across the world. The internet is a medium for collaboration, giving users the ability to broadcast to anyone around the world.
The birth of the modern internet was created by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies) to connect computer networks used by the government and military, dubbed ARPANET.
Computers were quickly added to the host-to-host protocol called the Network Control Program (NCP). The original ARPANET grew into the internet we now know.
Today’s internet is an open architecture network allowing anyone to create websites or web applications to connect with everyone else using the internet.
Guide to How the Internet Works
The internet is a large network of servers which moves packets along from their source to their destination. A packet moves through multiple points before finding its destination.
These packets move around the internet in accordance with the Internet Protocol (IP) and Transport Control Protocol (TCP). A protocol is a set of rules instructing a computer to communicate with other networks.
The Internet Protocol specifies addresses for data to route information to computers that are requesting data. Data that is transferred across the internet are broken up into packets, fragmented messages that are reconnected at their destination. Internet Protocol specifies how messages should be packed. Each destination has a unique IP address, or Internet Protocol address.
Did learning about this web app guide to computer science interest you? The Web Application Design and Development program transforms beginning computer coding students into entry-level, full-stack web developers.
The Web Application Design and Development program focuses on the main programming languages, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Java, Python, SQL, and PHP.
The Web Application Design and Development diploma program at Hunter Business School covers both front-end and back-end web development topics, starting with client-side programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, then gradually advances to object-oriented programming, Enterprise Java, and database design.
Through a series of hands-on projects, Web Application Design and Development training program students not only cultivate an understanding of computer coding and programming concepts, but also learn to work in a collaborative team environment, practice software development methodology skills, and prepare a sizable portfolio for their new career.
Career Services at Hunter Business School
Hunter Business School’s Career Services staff members help students jumpstart stimulating and gratifying careers in the web design field by helping the prospective employee make the transition to the workplace as quickly and easily as possible.
Placement services include job interviewing skills, résumé preparation, cover and thank you letter writing, job internships, and career counseling and support. Graduates are always welcome back to Hunter for assistance from the Career Services department.
Contact us today to find out more about how to become a website developer on Long Island.