Exercise 1.1

QUESTION

Computer scientists have the annoying habit of using common English words to mean something other than their common English meaning. For example, in English, statements and comments are the same thing, but
in programs they are different.

The glossary at the end of each chapter is intended to highlight words and phrases that have special meanings in computer science. When you see familiar words, don’t assume that you know what they mean!

1. In computer jargon, what’s the difference between a statement and a
comment?
2. What does it mean to say that a program is portable?
3. What is an executable?

SOLUTION

1. 

A statement is a part of a program that specifies a computation.abstract

A comment is a part of a program that contains information about the program, but that has no effect when the program runs

2.

A program is portable when it can be run on more than one kind of computer.

3.

An executable is another name for object code that is ready to run.