Visual Basic

A programming language and environment developed by Microsoft. Based on the BASIC language, Visual Basic was one of the first products to provide a graphical programming environment and a paint metaphor for developing user interfaces. Instead of worrying about syntax details, the Visual Basic programmer can add a substantial amount of code simply by dragging and dropping controls, such as buttons and dialog boxes, and then defining their appearance and behavior.

Although not a true object-oriented programming language in the strictest sense, Visual Basic nevertheless has an object-oriented philosophy. It is sometimes called an event-driven language because each object can react to different events such as a mouse click.

Since its launch in 1990, the Visual Basic approach has become the norm for programming languages. Now there are visual environments for many programming languages, including C, C++, Pascal, and Java. Visual Basic is sometimes called a Rapid Application Development (RAD)system because it enables programmers to quickly build prototype applications.

Visual C++

An application development tool developed by Microsoft for C++ programmers. Visual C++ supports object-oriented programming of 32-bit Windows applications with an integrated development environment (IDE), a C/C++ compiler, and a class library called the Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC). The IDE includes an AppWizard, ClassWizard, and testing features to make programming easier. Visual C++ was introduced in 1993, and Release 4.0 became available in 1996.

cHTML

(pronounced as separate letters) Short for compact HTML, a subset of HTML for small information devices, such as smart phones and PDAs. cHTML is essentially a pared down version of regular HTML over the Internet. Because small devices such as cellular phones have hardware restrictions such as small memory, low power CPUs, limited or no storage capabilities, small mono-color display screens, single-character font and restricted input methods (the absence of a keyboard or a mouse), there is a need for a simpler form of HTML.

Because of the limitations of small information devices, cHTML does not support JPEG images, tables, image maps, multiple fonts and styles of fonts, background colors and images, frames, style sheetsand more than two colors, typically black and white.

cHTML is defined so that all the basic operations can be done by a combination of four buttons and not by two-dimensional cursormovement: cursor forward, cursor backward, select, and back/stop. The functions that require two-dimensional cursor pointing, like “image map” and “table,” are excluded from cHTML.

cHTML was created by Japan-based Access Company, Ltd. for use in i-mode devices, and was accepted by the W3CM in 1998. cHTML has been fading into obsolescence as XHTML gains acceptance and replaces cHTML.

BASIC

Acronym for Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code. Developed by John Kemeney and Thomas Kurtz in the mid 1960s at Dartmouth College, BASIC is one of the earliest and simplest high-level programming languages. During the 1970s, it was the principal programming language taught to students, and continues to be a popular choice among educators.

Despite its simplicity, BASIC is used for a wide variety of business applications. There is an ANSI standard for the BASIC language, but most versions of BASIC include many proprietary extensions. Microsoft’s popular Visual Basic, for example, adds many object-oriented featuresto the standard BASIC.

Recently, many variations of BASIC have appeared as programming, or macro, languages within applications. For example, Microsoft Word and Excel both come with a version of BASIC with which userscan write programs to customize and automate these applications.

C

A high-level programming language developed by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs in the mid 1970s. Although originally designed as a systems programming language, C has proved to be a powerful and flexible language that can be used for a variety of applications, from business programs to engineering. C is a particularly popular language for personal computer programmers because it is relatively small — it requires less memory than other languages.

The first major program written in C was the UNIX operating system, and for many years C was considered to be inextricably linked with UNIX. Now, however, C is an important language independent of UNIX.

Although it is a high-level language, C is much closer to assembly language than are most other high-level languages. This closeness to the underlying machine language allows C programmers to write very efficient code. The low-level nature of C, however, can make the language difficult to use for some types of applications.

CPU – Central Processing Unit

CPU (pronounced as separate letters) is the abbreviation for central processing unit. Sometimes referred to simply as the central processor, but more commonly called a processor, the CPU is the brains of the computer where most calculations take place. In terms of computing power, the CPU is the most important element of a computer system.

Components of a CPU

The two typical components of a CPU include the following:

• The arithmetic logic unit (ALU), which performs arithmetic and logical operations.
• The control unit (CU), which extracts instructions from memory and decodes and executes them, calling on the ALU when necessary.

Image: Relationship between the elements of the CPU, input and output, and storage (see study guide).

Printed Circuit Boards, Microprocessors

On large machines, the CPU requires one or more printed circuit boards. On personal computers and small workstations, it is housed in a single chip called a microprocessor. Since the 1970’s the microprocessor class of CPUs has almost completely overtaken all other CPU implementations.

The CPU itself is an internal component of the computer. Modern CPUs are small and square and contain multiple metallic connectors or pins on the underside. The CPU is inserted directly into a CPU socket, pin side down, on the motherboard.

Each motherboard will support only a specific type (or range) of CPU, so you must check the motherboard manufacturer’s specifications before attempting to replace or upgrade a CPU in your computer. Modern CPUs also have an attached heat sink and small fan that go directly on top of the CPU to help dissipate heat.

CPU benchmark

A CPU benchmark (CPU benchmarking) is a series of tests designed to measure the performance of a computer or device CPU (or SoC). A set of standards, or baseline measurements are used to compare the performance of different systems, using the same methods and circumstances.

CPU Benchmark Tests

A typical CPU benchmark test will compare the test system against the standards for the type of CPU used. CPU specifications typically measured by a benchmark test includes the clock speed, the number of instructions executed, registry calls per cycle and overall architecture efficiency factors. The benchmark standards change between generations of CPUs and also between Intel and AMD CPUs.

CPU benchmark software will also gather and provide information on many of the main devices in a computer system, for example the processor, motherboard and chipset, memory and more.

network

A network is defined as a group of two or more computer systems linked together. There are many types of computer networks, including the following:

local-area networks (LANs): The computers are geographically close together (that is, in the same building).

wide-area networks (WANs): The computers are farther apart and are connected by telephone lines or radio waves.

campus-area networks (CANs): The computers are within a limited geographic area, such as a campus or military base.

metropolitan-area networks MANs): A data network designed for a town or city.

home-area networks (HANs): A network contained within a user’s home that connects a person’s digital devices.

Network Characteristics

In addition to these types, the following characteristics are also used to categorize different types of networks:

topology : The geometric arrangement of a computer system. Common topologies include a bus, star, and ring. See the Network topology diagrams in the Quick Reference section of Webopedia.

protocol : The protocol defines a common set of rules and signals that computers on the network use to communicate. One of the most popular protocols for LANs is called Ethernet. Another popular LAN protocol for PCs is the IBM token-ring network .

architecture : Networks can be broadly classified as using either a peer-to-peer or client/server architecture.

Computers on a network are sometimes called nodes. Computers and devices that allocate resources for a network are called servers.

Image: Network Topology diagram

(v.) To connect two or more computers together with the ability to communicate with each other.

Recommended Reading: Webopedia’s Network Fundamentals Study Guide teaches the building blocks of modern network design.

Top 5 Network Related Questions

1. What is network software?
2. What is network computer?
3. What is network management?
4. What is network security?
5. What is a local-area network (LAN)?

Video Description: Introduction to Computer network and IP address by Ravindrababu Ravula

network security

Network security is a specialized field in computer networking that involves securing a computer network infrastructure. Network security is typically handled by a network administrator or system administrator who implements the security policy, network software and hardware needed to protect a network and the resources accessed through the network from unauthorized access and also ensure that employees have adequate access to the network and resources to work.

A network security system typically relies on layers of protection and consists of multiple components including networking monitoring and security software in addition to hardware and appliances. All components work together to increase the overall security of the computer network.

computer

A computer is a programmable machine. The two principal characteristics of a computer are: It responds to a specific set of instructions in a well-defined manner and it can execute a prerecorded list of instructions (a program).

Modern Computers Defined

Modern computers are electronic and digital. The actual machinery — wires, transistors, and circuits — is called hardware; the instructions and data are called software.

All general-purpose computers require the following hardware components:

• Memory: enables a computer to store, at least temporarily, data and programs.
• Mass storage device: allows a computer to permanently retain large amounts of data. Common mass storage devices include solid state drives (SSDs) or disk drives and tape drives.
• Input device: usually a keyboard and mouse, the input device is the conduit through which data and instructions enter a computer.
• Output device: a display screen, printer, or other device that lets you see what the computer has accomplished.
• Central processing unit (CPU): the heart of the computer, this is the component that actually executes instructions.

In addition to these components, many others make it possible for the basic components to work together efficiently. For example, every computer requires a bus that transmits data from one part of the computer to another.

Computer Classification: By Size and Power

Most people associate a personal computer (PC) with the phrase computer.  A PC is a small and relatively inexpensive computer designed for an individual use. PCs are based on the microprocessor technology that enables manufacturers to put an entire CPU on one chip.

Personal computers at home can be used for a number of different applications including games, word processing, accounting and other tasks.

Computers are generally classified by size and power as follows, although there is considerable overlap. The differences between computer classifications generally get smaller as technology advances, creating smaller and more powerful and cost-friendly components.

Personal computer: a small, single-user computer based on a microprocessor. In addition to the microprocessor, a personal computer has a keyboard for entering data, a monitor for displaying information, and a storage device for saving data.

Workstation: a powerful, single-user computer. A workstation is like a personal computer, but it has a more powerful microprocessor and a higher-quality monitor.

Minicomputer: a multi-user computer capable of supporting from 10 to hundreds of users simultaneously.

Mainframe: a powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting many hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously.

Supercomputer: an extremely fast computer that can perform hundreds of millions of instructions per second.

 Recommended Reading: Webopedia’s Computer Architecture Study Guide is an introduction to computer system basics.