essay 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

Python Programming Language Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

Web services are one of the developments that accompanied the increased use of internet. This implies that web developers had to constantly review the approaches used to access web content, and so was the development of the web services technology. This essay provides an overview of Python language and how it is related to the development of web services.

This essay provides an insight into Python programming language by highlighting the key concepts associated with the language and on overview of the development of web services using Python. In addition, the essay highlights the survey tools that can facilitate the development of web services in Python programing language.

Python programming language is one of dynamic and object-oriented programming languages used for the development of diverse kinds of software developed by the Python Software foundation. Its significant advantage is that facilitates integration with other programing languages and software development tools. In addition, it has in-built standard libraries that are extensive. This means that it facilitates the development of a better source code.

The programming paradigm of Python language embarks on the readability of the source code enhanced through clear syntax. Apart from object-oriented programming paradigm, Python can implement other programming methodologies such as functional programing and imperative programming (Beazley 67).

Another important feature of Python language that makes it suitable as a software development tool is that it has a dynamic type system and its memory management strategy is automatic. In addition, it can support the implementation of scripting applications. It is important to note that the development model of Python language is community based, implying that its reference implementation is free and bases on the open source platform. There are various interpreters for the language for various systems software, although programs developed by Python are executable in any environment irrespective of operating system environment (Hetland 78).

Brief history of Python programming language

The development of Python language began during the late 80s, with its implementation done on the December of 1989. Python was a successor of the ABC programming language, which had the capabilities of exception handling and implementing an interface with the Amoeba System Software. The release of Python 2.0 during 2000 saw the inclusion of newer features such as offering support for Unicode and garbage collection (Beazley 89).

The significant change was its transformation making its development process community based. The release of Python 3.0 took place during 2008. Python language boasts of winning two awards by the TIOBE as the programming of language of the year during 2007 and 2010, resulting to an increase in the popularity of the language (Hetland 56).

Implementation of web services in Python

A web service is defines as a program that can transform any client application to a web-based application. The development of web services significantly depends on the scripting abilities of a programming language. An important aspect of Python language is that it can be used in scripting, implying that it is an effective development tool for web services. Web services developed by Python function using the standard messaging formats and they can be interfaced with other software development tools using the conventional Application Programming Interface (API).

Web programming using Python entails two major paradigms: server programming and client programming (Beazley 90). Server programming entails the development of web services that run on the web server, while client programming entails the development of web services that that run on the client side (Hetland 90). There are diverse approaches to server programming, examples include the WebFrameworks used for development of server side services using Python; CgiScripts used to write scripting applications in Python; Webservers, which are server solutions developed using Python.

Web services developed in Python are primarily used to offer access and functionality of the APIs via the web. On the client side, Python language can be used in a number of ways including Web Browser Programming, Web Client Programming and Web services. There are various libraries in Python for the development of web services; examples include the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and the Web Services Description Language (WSDL).

Python language has extensive in-built tools that can provide support to Internet protocols, coupled with its code readability characteristic, Python is therefore one of the most appropriate programming languages that can be used in the development of dynamic web content using the concept of dynamic programming. Some of the in-built facilities included in Python that can facilitate dynamic programming and development of web services include (Beazley 123):

• Python comes with HTTP 1.1 server implementations, which has both file servers and CGI servers. An important feature of this characteristic is that their customization is easy and they incorporate the concept of automation of web tasks. HTTP 1.1 has tools for the implementation of HTTP requests. In addition, HTTP 1.1 implements secure web services.
• Another important feature of Python is that is has features used for parsing and constructing of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). This is used to facilitate the handling of URLs by the web service in a more efficient manner.
• Python also has an included HTML and SGML modules used for parsing HTML tags during the development of web services. SGNL is a part of the parent language of Python language.
• Python can also support XML since it has in-built XML parsing features and SAX libraries embedded in the standard library.
• Python can also handle CGI requests, facilitating the process of developing codes for handling CGI.
• Low-level sockets serve to enhance network programming, which is an important strategy in the development web based applications.

Web Frameworks used in the development of web services in Python language

A web framework is an important aspect in the development of web services and web-based applications. They allow the web developer to design web services without the need deploy low-level protocols and sockets. Most of the available web frameworks technology based on server side scripting, with a few frameworks supporting client side scripting (Hetland 122).

Python language uses web frameworks for the development of web services through providing an avenue through which web developers can simply write codes basing on some standards of conformity to that particular framework. This concept of web service development in Python is known as plugging. Python language web frameworks provide diverse activities such as the interpretation of requests, production of responses and persistent data storage.

These processes are an integral part of the web services development (Beazley 67). An example of Python web frameworks is the Full stack frameworks, which consists of high-level components such as Django, Grok, Pylons and TurboGears. Python language can support other full stack web frameworks. The ability of Python language to support diverse web frameworks makes it one of the best programming languages that can be used for web service development.

In addition, they provide an avenue through which web developers can develop codes for web services (Drake 127). Python language frameworks also have the feature of customization, meaning that Python can be used to create abstractions, which can be used to implement specific tasks during the development of web service and their respective clients (Beazley 67).

Python language tool kits used in the development of web services

The two basic Python tool kits used in web service development are the gSOAP and the ZSI. The ZSI package found in Python has in-built capabilities that can support SOAP 1.1 messaging formats and WSDL frameworks. Web service development is easy to implement using ZSI package. The gSOAP toolkit also provides an effective platform for code development aimed implementing web services in Python language. Technologies such as JSON-RPC and SOAP also favor the development of codes for web services.

Under the JSON-RPC, Python-json-rpc is used in the development of web services. Environments such as the WSDL and Windows Common Foundation (WCF) on the other hand favor SOAP, which technologies such as Suds, Soaplib, psimblesoap and ZSI. It is also important to note that Python can be embedded in XML to develop web services under the XML-RPC platform. This comes as a provision in the inbuilt library of Python programming language (Drake 100).

The implementation of HTTP web services in python

HTTP web services are primarily used for exchanging data between various remote servers and clients. For instance, the HTTP GET is used to search for data in the server, while the HTTP POST is used for sending data to the remote server. There are other diving in operations implemented in HTTP web services using Python language.

They are used for data modification, creation and deletion operations. The significant advantage of the diving in strategy during code development for web services is due to the underlying simplicity compared to other web services development strategies using python language (Drake 102). Python has a number of libraries used for the implementation of web services basing on http platform. They are the http.client and the urllib.request.

The http.client is used to implement RFC 2616, while the url.lib provides a framework for development of standardized Application Program Interface. Another third-party library is httplib2, is an open source library used in the implementation of http in a more advanced manner compared to above libraries. The following section outlines the implementation of SOAP requests using Python programming language (Hetland 134).

SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol)

SOAP is a protocol that is used for exchange of structured messaging formats during the development and implementation of web services. SOAP significantly relies on XML for the design of its message format. On addition, it also depends on protocols that are found in the application layer such as Remote Procedure Calls and HTTP in order to facilitate the transmission of the message.

An important characteristic of SOAP is that it can be used to form an integral part of the web services protocol stack, which are used for offering the framework for messaging. Messaging frameworks play an important role in the development of code for web services. This implies that programming languages, such as Python, that have messaging frameworks are effective in web services development. The three basic elements of the SOAP protocol based on the XML framework are the envelope, data types and conventions.

The envelope defines the elements contained in the message and the various approaches used in message processing (Drake 145). The convention is a set of procedures used to represent the SOAP requests and responses. As an instance of how SOAP requests and responses can be implemented, messages that are in the SOAP framework are sent to a web page that has the capability to handle web services.

An example of such a website can be a library database that has some specified search parameters to distinguish the various database elements such as year of publication, author name and so on. If the search data that is supposed to be returned is changed into a format that is standardized and based on the machine-parseable functionality, then a SOAP request can be implemented effectively during the development of web services (Hetland 67).

The SOAP request and response platform has several layers that are used for specifying the message formats, the transport protocols and the various strategies for message processing. It can be argued that SOAP is a more advanced XML-RPC, although it has features borrowed from WDDX. The SOAP specification framework comprises of the processing model, extensibility model, underlying protocol binding and the message construct.

The processing model of SOAP consists of the SOAP sender, which is primarily responsible for transmitting SOAP messages. The SOAP receiver serves as the destination for the SOAP messages while the passage path refers to a set of nodes that the message follows during transmission (Beazley 90).

The ultimate soap receiver denotes the final receiver of the SOAP messages. They are primarily used for processing the SOAP messages through analysis of the contents and the header information of the messages. In some cases, a SOAP intermediary is needed and serves to be the link between the SOAP sender and receiver (Drake 67).

The basic transport formats used in SOAP are the application layer protocols used in the present day internet infrastructure. SOAP uses the XML as the standard format for its messages because of its increased use in various internet applications. A drawback of the XML in the implementation of SOAP requests and responses is that if Python is implemented in it, it results into long lengths of code; therefore making code development for SOAP web services a cumbersome process (Hetland 90).

There have been criticisms concerning the effectiveness of the SOAP messages in the implementation of web services. Among its advantages is that SOAP is more extensible and flexible to be used in diverse transport protocols. Apart from usage in the standard transport protocol, the HTTP, SOAP can also be used in other transport protocols such as SMTP and JMS. Due to the fact that the SOAP model functions effectively on the HTTP transport platform, its implementation can be integrated into existing firewalls and proxies in order to enhance security of the web services during their implementation.

There are significant advantages concerning the development of web services basing on the SOAP model (Drake 170). One major disadvantage is that SOAP is significantly slower in comparison with other middle ware platforms such as COBRA. This slowness is a major issue during the sending of big SOAP messages over the web service (Beazley 78).

The slowness is due to issues associated with the XML format. The second disadvantage of the SOAP model in web service development is that roles of the various interacting users are not dynamic rather they are fixed. This implies that only a single user can have access to the services of the other party at a given time. In order to eliminate biasness during service usage, developers using the SOAP model incorporate some concept of polling in the development of web services (Drake 150).

Python language comes with SOAP libraries, making it effective in the implementation of SOAP requests and responses during the development of web services. There are diverse implementations of the SOAP model in Python programming language. The SOAP modules incorporated in Python are an integral part of the programming language during the development of web services using the SOAP model.

With the SOAP modules in its standard libraries, the development of SOAP model in Python eliminated the need to have Web Services Description Language (WSDL). The SOAP.py feature found in Python serves to support the development of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). There are three basic approaches to development of web services in python programming language (Beazley 167). They are the Zolera Soap Infrastructure (ZSI), Soaplib and TGWebServices (TGWS). The following section provides an outline of the web services development strategies in python.

The ZSI offers the client and server libraries that are required for effective implementation of SOAP. In order to use ZSI, a web developer drafts a WDSL file, after which one codes the source code using python and then fed to the server. The WDSL files and its data structures are transformed into classes of python language, which can be fed to the client and server during the usage of web services (Beazley 125).

Soaplib is used in the generation of web services basing on the WDSL files and the source code written in python language. Its drawback is that it does not use the principles of full stack solutions (Beazley 145). This implies that has to be integrated with other web frameworks in order to be used effectively in the development of web services (Hetland 124).

TGWebServices

This is a component in the Turbo-Gears library of the python language. Its significant advantage during the implementation of web services using python is that it offers controller service to the base class, making it function as a root of the web service (Beazley 189). Its functionality is similar to Soaplib in the sense that during runtime, it produces a WDSL file from the source code. In addition, the library supports JSON and XML messages on the same code. A significant concern during the use of these libraries is interoperability. TGWS is reported to have SOAP faults. Another concern is feature completeness (Hetland 134).

It is evident that Python language is one of the most effective programming languages used in the development of web services. The ability to implement SOAP requests and response using python is an added advantage that favors the development of web services using Python (Drake 139).

Works cited

Beazley, David. Python Essential Reference . New Jersey: Addison-Wesley, 2009.

Drake, Fred . The Python Language Reference Manual . New York: Network Theory Limited, 2003.

Hetland, Magnus Lie. Python Algorithms: Mastering Basic Algorithms in the Python Language. New York: Apress, 2010.

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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.

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.

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."

Struggling with the Programming Review?

Get your assignments done by real pros. Save your precious time and boost your marks with ease.

"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.

Did you like our article?

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."

Learn How to Write a Compelling Essay with Python Programming Language

In today’s digital age, programming languages have extended their reach beyond traditional software development and into various domains. Python, a versatile and powerful programming language, has found its way into the realm of writing essays. This article aims to explore the intersection of Python and essay writing, addressing questions such as whether Python can write an essay, the characteristics of a Python programming language essay, the debate between Java and Python, tips for writing good code in Python, the best AI tools for essay writing, and how to achieve success in Python programming.

Can Python Write an Essay?

Python, being a programming language, is primarily designed to process and manipulate data, automate tasks, and build applications. While Python can assist in automating certain aspects of the essay-writing process, it is important to note that it cannot independently generate an entire essay from scratch. The creativity and critical thinking required for crafting an essay are inherent to human intelligence and are yet to be replicated by machines.

What is a Python Programming Language Essay?

A Python programming language essay refers to an essay that delves into the intricacies and applications of Python programming. It typically covers topics related to Python syntax, libraries, frameworks, and various use cases. Python essays serve as valuable resources for learners, enabling them to understand the language’s concepts and explore its potential.

Why Java is Better than Python?

The debate between Java and Python has long been a topic of discussion among developers. While both languages have their strengths and weaknesses, it is essential to consider the context and purpose of their usage. Java is known for its performance, robustness, and wide range of applications, particularly in enterprise-level software development. On the other hand, Python boasts a simpler syntax, ease of use, and a vast ecosystem of libraries and frameworks, making it an ideal choice for tasks like data analysis, web development, and artificial intelligence.

Writing Good Code in Python

To write good code in Python, it is crucial to follow best practices and adhere to certain principles. Here are a few tips to help you:

1. Maintain code readability: Python emphasizes readability with its clean and concise syntax. Use meaningful variable names, comment your code, and structure it in a logical manner.

2. Follow the PEP 8 style guide: PEP 8 provides guidelines for writing Python code. Adhering to these standards ensures consistency and improves code readability across projects.

3. Utilize modular and reusable code: Break your code into functions or classes that perform specific tasks. This promotes code reusability, readability, and easier maintenance.

4. Handle exceptions gracefully: Python provides robust error handling mechanisms. Utilize try-except blocks to catch and handle exceptions, making your code more resilient.

5. Test and debug your code: Thoroughly test your code to identify and fix any issues. Utilize debugging tools and techniques to streamline the debugging process.

The Best AI for Writing Essays

Artificial intelligence (AI) has made significant strides in natural language processing, including essay writing. Some notable AI tools for generating essays include OpenAI’s GPT-3, ChatGPT, and other language models. These models can assist in generating coherent text, providing ideas, and improving language fluency. However, it is important to remember that AI-generated content should always be used as a supplement and not a replacement for human creativity and critical thinking.

How to Be Successful in Python Programming

Becoming successful in Python programming requires dedication, practice, and continuous learning. Here are some tips to help you on your journey:

1. Start with the fundamentals: Develop a strong foundation by learning the basic syntax, data types, and control structures of Python.

2. Work on projects: Apply your knowledge to real-world projects. Building practical applications helps

 reinforce concepts and improves problem-solving skills.

3. Engage with the community: Join online forums, participate in coding communities, and collaborate with other Python enthusiasts. Sharing ideas and experiences can accelerate your learning process.

4. Read code: Analyze and study well-written Python code. Understanding how experienced developers structure their code and solve problems can provide valuable insights.

5. Embrace documentation and resources: Python has extensive documentation and numerous online resources. Make use of them to deepen your understanding of the language and its libraries.

Python, although unable to independently write essays, can significantly aid in the essay-writing process through automation and data processing. Understanding the characteristics of a Python programming language essay can help learners utilize these resources effectively. Additionally, while the Java versus Python debate continues, both languages have their strengths depending on the task at hand. By following best practices, utilizing AI tools wisely, and embracing a growth mindset, you can embark on a successful journey in Python programming. So, dive in, explore, and leverage the power of Python to enhance your essay writing and programming skills.

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78 Programming Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on programming, 🌶️ hot programming essay topics, 👍 good programming research topics & essay examples, 🎓 most interesting programming research titles.

• Programming Code for ATM Machine
• Transshipment Problem Solving with Linear Programming
• Software Engineering Management: Unified Software Development Process and Extreme Programming
• Linear Programming Operations Management
• Classes and Objects in Java Programming
• Loops in Java Programming: FOR, WHILE, and DO…WHILE
• Java as a Programming Language: Creating an App
• Linear Programming and Sensitivity Analysis Linear programming and sensitivity analysis are important statistical tools for making decision based on examining the interaction between different variable inputs to generate ideal output.
• Programming Student Management System This paper’s main purpose is to design and implement a simple module where students’ can enter the grades and compute the average grades.
• Scheduling Problems Management: Linear Programming Models In the example of scheduling, linear programming models are used for identifying the optimal employment of limited resources, including human resources.
• Linear Programming Models Review The linear model addresses the challenge of forecasting the capacity of an e-commerce company to sell the maximum number of units possible.
• Parallel Programming Analysis System performance from a hardware perspective cannot be infinitely improved due to limitations regarding heat dissipation and power consumption.
• Inheritance and Polymorphism in Programming This article defines the concepts of inheritance and polymorphism and provides examples of their use in object-oriented programming.
• Computer Programs: Programming Techniques For computers to execute their functions, specific programs with specific applications are used. Programs must be executable by any computer depending on the program instruction.
• Web Programming Technologies, Strategies and Design Web development ranges from creating a single static website page to creating the most complex web-based internet apps, electronic enterprises, or social media platforms.
• Teaching Computer Science to Non-English Speakers Learning computer science presents many challenges. The paper investigates significant barriers to CS education and how the process could be improved.
• Plan to Support Students Learning English and Programming Learning English and coding at the same time challenges for non-native English speakers when it came to reading educational content, communicating technically and writing software.
• Challenges of Computer Programming for Non-English Speakers The initial idea was to choose a topic connected with the problems that some inexperienced programmers may face.
• JavaScript-Based AJAX, MVC, and Functional Programming This paper will describe JavaScript-based AJAX, MVC, and Functional Programming, discuss their pros, compares them, and find scenarios where they are appropriate
• Aspects of Coral Programming Using functions in coral is very useful when creating programs that require their specific input. Using the current case, breaking the program is necessary.
• Scrum: Extreme Programming Without Engineering The report contrasts XP and Scrum’s non-technical practices and claims that Scrum is just XP without the technical practices.
• Paired Programming Analysis In the engineering of software, the software methodology applied plays a significant role in the final product of the process.
• Object-Oriented vs Procedural Programming Paradigms Procedural programming and Object-oriented programming are fundamentally different in how they approach problem-solving and organizing programs.
• Programming: Personal Development Plans In the article, the author shares his impressions of the course on Java programming and reflects on his next steps, which will allow him to grow as a programmer.
• Technical Communication and Programming Modern computer programs written in high-level programming languages are often complex to use and understand, especially for users who are not familiar with the concept of software development.
• Access Risks in Application Programming Interface The paper overviews the security concerns of application programming interfaces and offers ways to mitigate identity and access management risks.
• Linear Programming Usage and Analysis Linear programming (LP) is used to find the optimal solution for functions operating under known constraints
• The “Hour of Code” Project: Motivation to Programming The paper includes an analysis of some of the videos and explores the possible outcomes of the Hour of Code approach with a focus on the topics of creativity and success.
• Decision Problems Under Risk and Chance-Constrained Programming: Dilemmas in the Transition
• Linear and Nonlinear Separation of Patterns by Linear Programming
• Programming Capabilities and Application Software Comparison
• Bilevel Programming for the Continuous Transport Network Design Problem
• Computer Programming and Its Effect on Our Lives
• Sequence, Selection, and Iteration in Programming Language
• Aggregating Classifiers With Mathematical Programming
• Code Refactoring Using Slice-Based Cohesion Metrics and Aspect-Oriented Programming
• Agile Modeling, Agile Software Development, and Extreme Programming
• Chance Constrained Programming and Its Applications to Energy Management
• Capacity Planning With Technology Replacement by Stochastic Dynamic Programming
• Airline Network Revenue Management by Multistage Stochastic Programming
• How CAD Programming Helps the Architectural Plans and Design Firms
• Combining Linear Programming and Automated Planning to Solve Intermodal Transportation Problems
• Algorithms and Logic for Computer Programming
• Differences Between Procedural-Based and Object-Oriented Programming
• Can Programming Frameworks Bring Smartphones Into the Mainstream of Psychological Science?
• The Main Concept of a Programming Model
• Bill Gates and Nolan Bushnell: Pioneers of Computer Programming
• Comparison of Angular2 and Java Programming Frameworks
• Allocating Selling Effort Via Dynamic Programming
• Innovations and Programming Techniques for Risk Analysis
• Comparing the Factor-Rating System and the Transportation Method of Linear Programming
• Alternative Estimation Methods for Two-Regime Models: A Mathematical Programming Approach
• Computer Organization with Machine Level Programming
• Application Programming Interface for Radiofrequency Transceiver
• Integer Programming: Methods, Uses, Computations
• Degeneracy, Duality, and Shadow Prices in Linear Programming
• Pair Programming and Lean Principles of Software Development
• Branch-and-Bound Strategies for Dynamic Programming
• Compilers: Object-oriented Programming Language
• Integrating Combinatorial Algorithms Into a Linear Programming Solver
• Applying Integer Linear Programming to the Fleet Assignment Problem
• Comparing Extreme Programming and Waterfall Project Results
• Description and Occupational Outlook of Computer Programming
• Concepts, Techniques, and Models of Computer Programming
• Endogenizing the Rise and Fall of Urban Subcenters via Discrete Programming Models
• Complex Matrix Decomposition and Quadratic Programming
• Linear Programming: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Strategies
• Designing Reusable Class and Object-Oriented Programming
• Computer and Mathematical Sciences: Programming Paradigms
• How Grace Hopper Contributed to the Early Computer Programming Development
• Digital Circuit Optimization via Geometric Programming
• Inequalities for Stochastic Linear Programming Problems
• Computer Programming and Program Development
• Discrete Dynamic Programming and Capital Allocation
• Programming Techniques and Environments in a Technology Management Department
• Computer Science and Programming of the Mechanical Industry
• Dynamic Choice Theory and Dynamic Programming
• Continuous Reformulations for Zero-One Programming Problems

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These essay examples and topics on Programming were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on June 24, 2024 .

ESSAY SAUCE

FOR STUDENTS : ALL THE INGREDIENTS OF A GOOD ESSAY

Essay: Programming languages and their uses

Essay details and download:.

• Subject area(s): Information technology essays
• Reading time: 5 minutes
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• Published: 24 October 2015*
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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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College admissions

Course: college admissions   >   unit 4.

• Writing a strong college admissions essay
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• Student story: Admissions essay about a past mistake
• Student story: Admissions essay about a meaningful poem

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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:

Application Essays

What this handout is about.

This handout will help you write and revise the personal statement required by many graduate programs, internships, and special academic programs.

Before you start writing

Because the application essay can have a critical effect upon your progress toward a career, you should spend significantly more time, thought, and effort on it than its typically brief length would suggest. It should reflect how you arrived at your professional goals, why the program is ideal for you, and what you bring to the program. Don’t make this a deadline task—now’s the time to write, read, rewrite, give to a reader, revise again, and on until the essay is clear, concise, and compelling. At the same time, don’t be afraid. You know most of the things you need to say already.

Read the instructions carefully. One of the basic tasks of the application essay is to follow the directions. If you don’t do what they ask, the reader may wonder if you will be able to follow directions in their program. Make sure you follow page and word limits exactly—err on the side of shortness, not length. The essay may take two forms:

• A one-page essay answering a general question
• Several short answers to more specific questions

Do some research before you start writing. Think about…

• The field. Why do you want to be a _____? No, really. Think about why you and you particularly want to enter that field. What are the benefits and what are the shortcomings? When did you become interested in the field and why? What path in that career interests you right now? Brainstorm and write these ideas out.
• The program. Why is this the program you want to be admitted to? What is special about the faculty, the courses offered, the placement record, the facilities you might be using? If you can’t think of anything particular, read the brochures they offer, go to events, or meet with a faculty member or student in the program. A word about honesty here—you may have a reason for choosing a program that wouldn’t necessarily sway your reader; for example, you want to live near the beach, or the program is the most prestigious and would look better on your resume. You don’t want to be completely straightforward in these cases and appear superficial, but skirting around them or lying can look even worse. Turn these aspects into positives. For example, you may want to go to a program in a particular location because it is a place that you know very well and have ties to, or because there is a need in your field there. Again, doing research on the program may reveal ways to legitimate even your most superficial and selfish reasons for applying.
• Yourself. What details or anecdotes would help your reader understand you? What makes you special? Is there something about your family, your education, your work/life experience, or your values that has shaped you and brought you to this career field? What motivates or interests you? Do you have special skills, like leadership, management, research, or communication? Why would the members of the program want to choose you over other applicants? Be honest with yourself and write down your ideas. If you are having trouble, ask a friend or relative to make a list of your strengths or unique qualities that you plan to read on your own (and not argue about immediately). Ask them to give you examples to back up their impressions (For example, if they say you are “caring,” ask them to describe an incident they remember in which they perceived you as caring).

Now, write a draft

This is a hard essay to write. It’s probably much more personal than any of the papers you have written for class because it’s about you, not World War II or planaria. You may want to start by just getting something—anything—on paper. Try freewriting. Think about the questions we asked above and the prompt for the essay, and then write for 15 or 30 minutes without stopping. What do you want your audience to know after reading your essay? What do you want them to feel? Don’t worry about grammar, punctuation, organization, or anything else. Just get out the ideas you have. For help getting started, see our handout on brainstorming .

Now, look at what you’ve written. Find the most relevant, memorable, concrete statements and focus in on them. Eliminate any generalizations or platitudes (“I’m a people person”, “Doctors save lives”, or “Mr. Calleson’s classes changed my life”), or anything that could be cut and pasted into anyone else’s application. Find what is specific to you about the ideas that generated those platitudes and express them more directly. Eliminate irrelevant issues (“I was a track star in high school, so I think I’ll make a good veterinarian.”) or issues that might be controversial for your reader (“My faith is the one true faith, and only nurses with that faith are worthwhile,” or “Lawyers who only care about money are evil.”).

Often, writers start out with generalizations as a way to get to the really meaningful statements, and that’s OK. Just make sure that you replace the generalizations with examples as you revise. A hint: you may find yourself writing a good, specific sentence right after a general, meaningless one. If you spot that, try to use the second sentence and delete the first.

Applications that have several short-answer essays require even more detail. Get straight to the point in every case, and address what they’ve asked you to address.

Now that you’ve generated some ideas, get a little bit pickier. It’s time to remember one of the most significant aspects of the application essay: your audience. Your readers may have thousands of essays to read, many or most of which will come from qualified applicants. This essay may be your best opportunity to communicate with the decision makers in the application process, and you don’t want to bore them, offend them, or make them feel you are wasting their time.

With this in mind:

• Do assure your audience that you understand and look forward to the challenges of the program and the field, not just the benefits.
• Do assure your audience that you understand exactly the nature of the work in the field and that you are prepared for it, psychologically and morally as well as educationally.
• Do assure your audience that you care about them and their time by writing a clear, organized, and concise essay.
• Do address any information about yourself and your application that needs to be explained (for example, weak grades or unusual coursework for your program). Include that information in your essay, and be straightforward about it. Your audience will be more impressed with your having learned from setbacks or having a unique approach than your failure to address those issues.
• Don’t waste space with information you have provided in the rest of the application. Every sentence should be effective and directly related to the rest of the essay. Don’t ramble or use fifteen words to express something you could say in eight.
• Don’t overstate your case for what you want to do, being so specific about your future goals that you come off as presumptuous or naïve (“I want to become a dentist so that I can train in wisdom tooth extraction, because I intend to focus my life’s work on taking 13 rather than 15 minutes per tooth.”). Your goals may change–show that such a change won’t devastate you.
• And, one more time, don’t write in cliches and platitudes. Every doctor wants to help save lives, every lawyer wants to work for justice—your reader has read these general cliches a million times.

Imagine the worst-case scenario (which may never come true—we’re talking hypothetically): the person who reads your essay has been in the field for decades. She is on the application committee because she has to be, and she’s read 48 essays so far that morning. You are number 49, and your reader is tired, bored, and thinking about lunch. How are you going to catch and keep her attention?

Assure your audience that you are capable academically, willing to stick to the program’s demands, and interesting to have around. For more tips, see our handout on audience .

Voice and style

The voice you use and the style in which you write can intrigue your audience. The voice you use in your essay should be yours. Remember when your high school English teacher said “never say ‘I’”? Here’s your chance to use all those “I”s you’ve been saving up. The narrative should reflect your perspective, experiences, thoughts, and emotions. Focusing on events or ideas may give your audience an indirect idea of how these things became important in forming your outlook, but many others have had equally compelling experiences. By simply talking about those events in your own voice, you put the emphasis on you rather than the event or idea. Look at this anecdote:

During the night shift at Wirth Memorial Hospital, a man walked into the Emergency Room wearing a monkey costume and holding his head. He seemed confused and was moaning in pain. One of the nurses ascertained that he had been swinging from tree branches in a local park and had hit his head when he fell out of a tree. This tragic tale signified the moment at which I realized psychiatry was the only career path I could take.

An interesting tale, yes, but what does it tell you about the narrator? The following example takes the same anecdote and recasts it to make the narrator more of a presence in the story:

I was working in the Emergency Room at Wirth Memorial Hospital one night when a man walked in wearing a monkey costume and holding his head. I could tell he was confused and in pain. After a nurse asked him a few questions, I listened in surprise as he explained that he had been a monkey all of his life and knew that it was time to live with his brothers in the trees. Like many other patients I would see that year, this man suffered from an illness that only a combination of psychological and medical care would effectively treat. I realized then that I wanted to be able to help people by using that particular combination of skills only a psychiatrist develops.

The voice you use should be approachable as well as intelligent. This essay is not the place to stun your reader with ten prepositional phrases (“the goal of my study of the field of law in the winter of my discontent can best be understood by the gathering of more information about my youth”) and thirty nouns (“the research and study of the motivation behind my insights into the field of dentistry contains many pitfalls and disappointments but even more joy and enlightenment”) per sentence. (Note: If you are having trouble forming clear sentences without all the prepositions and nouns, take a look at our handout on style .)

You may want to create an impression of expertise in the field by using specialized or technical language. But beware of this unless you really know what you are doing—a mistake will look twice as ignorant as not knowing the terms in the first place. Your audience may be smart, but you don’t want to make them turn to a dictionary or fall asleep between the first word and the period of your first sentence. Keep in mind that this is a personal statement. Would you think you were learning a lot about a person whose personal statement sounded like a journal article? Would you want to spend hours in a lab or on a committee with someone who shuns plain language?

Of course, you don’t want to be chatty to the point of making them think you only speak slang, either. Your audience may not know what “I kicked that lame-o to the curb for dissing my research project” means. Keep it casual enough to be easy to follow, but formal enough to be respectful of the audience’s intelligence.

Just use an honest voice and represent yourself as naturally as possible. It may help to think of the essay as a sort of face-to-face interview, only the interviewer isn’t actually present.

Too much style

A well-written, dramatic essay is much more memorable than one that fails to make an emotional impact on the reader. Good anecdotes and personal insights can really attract an audience’s attention. BUT be careful not to let your drama turn into melodrama. You want your reader to see your choices motivated by passion and drive, not hyperbole and a lack of reality. Don’t invent drama where there isn’t any, and don’t let the drama take over. Getting someone else to read your drafts can help you figure out when you’ve gone too far.

Taking risks

Many guides to writing application essays encourage you to take a risk, either by saying something off-beat or daring or by using a unique writing style. When done well, this strategy can work—your goal is to stand out from the rest of the applicants and taking a risk with your essay will help you do that. An essay that impresses your reader with your ability to think and express yourself in original ways and shows you really care about what you are saying is better than one that shows hesitancy, lack of imagination, or lack of interest.

But be warned: this strategy is a risk. If you don’t carefully consider what you are saying and how you are saying it, you may offend your readers or leave them with a bad impression of you as flaky, immature, or careless. Do not alienate your readers.

Some writers take risks by using irony (your suffering at the hands of a barbaric dentist led you to want to become a gentle one), beginning with a personal failure (that eventually leads to the writer’s overcoming it), or showing great imagination (one famous successful example involved a student who answered a prompt about past formative experiences by beginning with a basic answer—”I have volunteered at homeless shelters”—that evolved into a ridiculous one—”I have sealed the hole in the ozone layer with plastic wrap”). One student applying to an art program described the person he did not want to be, contrasting it with the person he thought he was and would develop into if accepted. Another person wrote an essay about her grandmother without directly linking her narrative to the fact that she was applying for medical school. Her essay was risky because it called on the reader to infer things about the student’s character and abilities from the story.

Assess your credentials and your likelihood of getting into the program before you choose to take a risk. If you have little chance of getting in, try something daring. If you are almost certainly guaranteed a spot, you have more flexibility. In any case, make sure that you answer the essay question in some identifiable way.

After you’ve written a draft

Get several people to read it and write their comments down. It is worthwhile to seek out someone in the field, perhaps a professor who has read such essays before. Give it to a friend, your mom, or a neighbor. The key is to get more than one point of view, and then compare these with your own. Remember, you are the one best equipped to judge how accurately you are representing yourself. For tips on putting this advice to good use, see our handout on getting feedback .

After you’ve received feedback, revise the essay. Put it away. Get it out and revise it again (you can see why we said to start right away—this process may take time). Get someone to read it again. Revise it again.

When you think it is totally finished, you are ready to proofread and format the essay. Check every sentence and punctuation mark. You cannot afford a careless error in this essay. (If you are not comfortable with your proofreading skills, check out our handout on editing and proofreading ).

If you find that your essay is too long, do not reformat it extensively to make it fit. Making readers deal with a nine-point font and quarter-inch margins will only irritate them. Figure out what material you can cut and cut it. For strategies for meeting word limits, see our handout on writing concisely .

Finally, proofread it again. We’re not kidding.

Other resources

Don’t be afraid to talk to professors or professionals in the field. Many of them would be flattered that you asked their advice, and they will have useful suggestions that others might not have. Also keep in mind that many colleges and professional programs offer websites addressing the personal statement. You can find them either through the website of the school to which you are applying or by searching under “personal statement” or “application essays” using a search engine.

If your schedule and ours permit, we invite you to come to the Writing Center. Be aware that during busy times in the semester, we limit students to a total of two visits to discuss application essays and personal statements (two visits per student, not per essay); we do this so that students working on papers for courses will have a better chance of being seen. Make an appointment or submit your essay to our online writing center (note that we cannot guarantee that an online tutor will help you in time).

For information on other aspects of the application process, you can consult the resources at University Career Services .

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Asher, Donald. 2012. Graduate Admissions Essays: Write Your Way Into the Graduate School of Your Choice , 4th ed. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press.

Curry, Boykin, Emily Angel Baer, and Brian Kasbar. 2003. Essays That Worked for College Applications: 50 Essays That Helped Students Get Into the Nation’s Top Colleges . New York: Ballantine Books.

Stelzer, Richard. 2002. How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate and Professional School , 3rd ed. Lawrenceville, NJ: Thomson Peterson.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in May 2023 signed legislation that gives free public college tuition to Minnesota residents, including undocumented immigrants, whose families earn less than $80,000 per year.

The Walz claim was made by Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who represents most of northern Wisconsin, on Aug. 6, 2024. That day, Kamala Harris announced Walz as her vice presidential running mate.

Walz also signed legislation that makes undocumented Minnesota residents eligible for the state’s low-income health insurance program. They must pay premiums and other costs.

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Minnesota Office of Higher Education:  One Minnesota Bill Includes Historic Investments in Higher Education

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How to cite ChatGPT

Use discount code STYLEBLOG15 for 15% off APA Style print products with free shipping in the United States.

We, the APA Style team, are not robots. We can all pass a CAPTCHA test , and we know our roles in a Turing test . And, like so many nonrobot human beings this year, we’ve spent a fair amount of time reading, learning, and thinking about issues related to large language models, artificial intelligence (AI), AI-generated text, and specifically ChatGPT . We’ve also been gathering opinions and feedback about the use and citation of ChatGPT. Thank you to everyone who has contributed and shared ideas, opinions, research, and feedback.

In this post, I discuss situations where students and researchers use ChatGPT to create text and to facilitate their research, not to write the full text of their paper or manuscript. We know instructors have differing opinions about how or even whether students should use ChatGPT, and we’ll be continuing to collect feedback about instructor and student questions. As always, defer to instructor guidelines when writing student papers. For more about guidelines and policies about student and author use of ChatGPT, see the last section of this post.

Quoting or reproducing the text created by ChatGPT in your paper

If you’ve used ChatGPT or other AI tools in your research, describe how you used the tool in your Method section or in a comparable section of your paper. For literature reviews or other types of essays or response or reaction papers, you might describe how you used the tool in your introduction. In your text, provide the prompt you used and then any portion of the relevant text that was generated in response.

Unfortunately, the results of a ChatGPT “chat” are not retrievable by other readers, and although nonretrievable data or quotations in APA Style papers are usually cited as personal communications , with ChatGPT-generated text there is no person communicating. Quoting ChatGPT’s text from a chat session is therefore more like sharing an algorithm’s output; thus, credit the author of the algorithm with a reference list entry and the corresponding in-text citation.

When prompted with “Is the left brain right brain divide real or a metaphor?” the ChatGPT-generated text indicated that although the two brain hemispheres are somewhat specialized, “the notation that people can be characterized as ‘left-brained’ or ‘right-brained’ is considered to be an oversimplification and a popular myth” (OpenAI, 2023).

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

You may also put the full text of long responses from ChatGPT in an appendix of your paper or in online supplemental materials, so readers have access to the exact text that was generated. It is particularly important to document the exact text created because ChatGPT will generate a unique response in each chat session, even if given the same prompt. If you create appendices or supplemental materials, remember that each should be called out at least once in the body of your APA Style paper.

When given a follow-up prompt of “What is a more accurate representation?” the ChatGPT-generated text indicated that “different brain regions work together to support various cognitive processes” and “the functional specialization of different regions can change in response to experience and environmental factors” (OpenAI, 2023; see Appendix A for the full transcript).

Creating a reference to ChatGPT or other AI models and software

The in-text citations and references above are adapted from the reference template for software in Section 10.10 of the Publication Manual (American Psychological Association, 2020, Chapter 10). Although here we focus on ChatGPT, because these guidelines are based on the software template, they can be adapted to note the use of other large language models (e.g., Bard), algorithms, and similar software.

The reference and in-text citations for ChatGPT are formatted as follows:

• Parenthetical citation: (OpenAI, 2023)
• Narrative citation: OpenAI (2023)

Let’s break that reference down and look at the four elements (author, date, title, and source):

Author: The author of the model is OpenAI.

Date: The date is the year of the version you used. Following the template in Section 10.10, you need to include only the year, not the exact date. The version number provides the specific date information a reader might need.

Title: The name of the model is “ChatGPT,” so that serves as the title and is italicized in your reference, as shown in the template. Although OpenAI labels unique iterations (i.e., ChatGPT-3, ChatGPT-4), they are using “ChatGPT” as the general name of the model, with updates identified with version numbers.

The version number is included after the title in parentheses. The format for the version number in ChatGPT references includes the date because that is how OpenAI is labeling the versions. Different large language models or software might use different version numbering; use the version number in the format the author or publisher provides, which may be a numbering system (e.g., Version 2.0) or other methods.

Bracketed text is used in references for additional descriptions when they are needed to help a reader understand what’s being cited. References for a number of common sources, such as journal articles and books, do not include bracketed descriptions, but things outside of the typical peer-reviewed system often do. In the case of a reference for ChatGPT, provide the descriptor “Large language model” in square brackets. OpenAI describes ChatGPT-4 as a “large multimodal model,” so that description may be provided instead if you are using ChatGPT-4. Later versions and software or models from other companies may need different descriptions, based on how the publishers describe the model. The goal of the bracketed text is to briefly describe the kind of model to your reader.

Source: When the publisher name and the author name are the same, do not repeat the publisher name in the source element of the reference, and move directly to the URL. This is the case for ChatGPT. The URL for ChatGPT is https://chat.openai.com/chat . For other models or products for which you may create a reference, use the URL that links as directly as possible to the source (i.e., the page where you can access the model, not the publisher’s homepage).

Other questions about citing ChatGPT

You may have noticed the confidence with which ChatGPT described the ideas of brain lateralization and how the brain operates, without citing any sources. I asked for a list of sources to support those claims and ChatGPT provided five references—four of which I was able to find online. The fifth does not seem to be a real article; the digital object identifier given for that reference belongs to a different article, and I was not able to find any article with the authors, date, title, and source details that ChatGPT provided. Authors using ChatGPT or similar AI tools for research should consider making this scrutiny of the primary sources a standard process. If the sources are real, accurate, and relevant, it may be better to read those original sources to learn from that research and paraphrase or quote from those articles, as applicable, than to use the model’s interpretation of them.

We’ve also received a number of other questions about ChatGPT. Should students be allowed to use it? What guidelines should instructors create for students using AI? Does using AI-generated text constitute plagiarism? Should authors who use ChatGPT credit ChatGPT or OpenAI in their byline? What are the copyright implications ?

On these questions, researchers, editors, instructors, and others are actively debating and creating parameters and guidelines. Many of you have sent us feedback, and we encourage you to continue to do so in the comments below. We will also study the policies and procedures being established by instructors, publishers, and academic institutions, with a goal of creating guidelines that reflect the many real-world applications of AI-generated text.

For questions about manuscript byline credit, plagiarism, and related ChatGPT and AI topics, the APA Style team is seeking the recommendations of APA Journals editors. APA Style guidelines based on those recommendations will be posted on this blog and on the APA Style site later this year.

Update: APA Journals has published policies on the use of generative AI in scholarly materials .

We, the APA Style team humans, appreciate your patience as we navigate these unique challenges and new ways of thinking about how authors, researchers, and students learn, write, and work with new technologies.

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

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What I learned about ultra-processed foods from stuffing my face at the world’s leading food technology event

By Nicholas Florko July 31, 2024

C HICAGO — “Buttery Biscuits & Hot Honey Gravy,” mushroom jerky, soy chicken nuggets, strawberry champagne donuts, plant-based frozen yogurt and buñuelos, white cheddar cheese puffs, chocolatey cookie dippers, egg-free Spanish cheesecake, plant-based chorizo-style empanadas …

I was at the annual gathering of food technologists this month to learn about, well, food technology, and I had found myself in the exhibit hall, testing how much I could eat before needing to make an emergency trip back to my hotel room.

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It all started with a cookie bar. A perfect cookie bar. Crumbly like shortbread — but not sandy or dry — with crunchy pretzels and oats that were punctuated with flecks of caramel that glued the confection together but were virtually imperceptible to the eye. It was sweet but not saccharine — especially given the mini marshmallows studding its surface.

It was engineered to showcase the industrial creations — Jetpuffed White Cylinder Marbit marshmallows and Kraft Caramel Bits — from one of the world’s largest snack-food companies, Kraft Heinz.

Yes, there were booths featuring 100-liter reactors, flow wrappers, and sachet baggers, and even a robot making fried chicken. But, I realized, these ultra-processed treats were the real technology on display.

Going into the conference I knew that food companies designed their products to be hyperpalatable, that they were filled with ingredients I didn’t understand and couldn’t pronounce, and that roughly 60% of calories Americans consume these days come from so-called ultra-processed foods — industrial creations made up of ingredients you can’t find on any supermarket shelf. But I wasn’t prepared to hear about how companies were using AI to design the perfect food, or to watch as marketers outlined how today’s child-rearing techniques might impact what type of indulgent treats kids crave for snack time.

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The IFT First conference, the “world’s leading food technology event” attended by some 17,000 people, demonstrated that the food industry is well aware of the health concerns about ultra-processed foods, but it is marching ahead with intentionally and strategically designing edible creations so craveable you might set aside your nutritional concerns — like I did — and begin skipping the PowerPoint presentations to try some mini chocolate lava cakes.

My bender — as deranged and delicious as it was — raised a number of tough questions. How much data about the health impact of ultra-processed foods do we need to amass before companies should be expected to start selling something healthier? Should they be praised for developing slightly healthier versions of ultra-processed foods, even if they are still ultra-processed? And when does a well-made, irresistible snack cross over from addictive in the colloquial sense to actually addictive?

“W e won’t be debating the definition of ultra-processed foods,” an official of the Institute of Food Technologists, which hosted the conference, warned attendees at the start of a panel discussion closing out the first official day of the confab.

The disclaimer underscored just how rudimentary much of the understanding about ultra-processed foods is, even among experts.

While overconsumption of these foods has been tied in observational studies to type 2 diabetes, hypertension, colorectal cancer, and even anxiety and depression, scientists cannot agree on an accepted definition for an ultra-processed food, let alone a coherent theory for why they might be so harmful.

Related: Top FDA officials weighing regulation of ultra-processed foods, internal documents show

The lack of a coherent definition or understanding of these foods’ health effects has splintered the industry.

Some have rejected the concern about ultra-processing as unscientific , and part of a larger tendency to malign certain diets as causing America’s expanding waistlines.

“This is the new demon food,” said Janet Helm, a food and nutrition consultant who delivered a fireside chat during the conference. “The health benefit of a product is not solely related to the level of processing.”

Others acknowledge the growing science around ultra-processed food, but argue that the research is too rudimentary to influence corporate strategy.

“I don’t think we know what to change right now,” said Anna Rosales, the IFT official who led the panel on ultra-processed foods, in an interview following the conference.

Trending Now: Physicians weigh in on potential impact of Trump’s ear wound: ‘It’s a matter of inches’

Many companies are responding in their own capitalist way: selling slightly healthier versions of ultra-processed foods to win over customers who have read the worrisome headlines. These fears present “opportunities for growth,” a marketer for Innova Market Insights, a firm that boasts of its ability to predict food trends, assured conference attendees.

The exhibit hall overflowed with slightly healthier versions of ultra-processed classics. The plant-based frozen yogurt I ate was spiked with pea protein, and contained less sugar than your typical frozen treat thanks to the low-calorie sweetener allulose.

“For consumers of plant-based frozen desserts, ‘added protein’ is one of the top health and nutritional benefits they seek when choosing a product,” the food’s manufacturer, Ingredion, advertised.

S cientists and public health officials only have educated guesses for why ultra-processed foods are so appealing.

Some think that they trigger chemical reactions in the brain similar to those triggered by addictive drugs , or that they scramble communication between the gut and the brain, prompting people to overeat. Others will note there’s also a slew of societal and economic factors that heighten UPFs’ popularity, including low cost and wide availability, especially for people who do not have the time or resources to cook meals at home.

And then there’s the simple fact that food companies, with their teams of scientists and unlimited tools to manipulate smell, color, texture, and taste, can design a food so tailored to a person’s individual preferences that it puts the likes of celebrity chefs Thomas Keller and René Redzepi to shame.

In reality, the strawberry champagne donuts didn’t have strawberries or champagne. It was all man-made flavoring meant to precisely mimic those flavors. The biscuits and hot honey gravy featured “lipolyzed cream and ghee flavors.”

Related: Medicaid is paying millions for salty, fat-laden ‘medically tailored’ cheeseburgers and sandwiches

The cookie dippers, made by Cargill, contain something called “PalmAgility compound shortening,” which the company advertises as “less likely to get brittle when stored at low temperatures or greasy at high temperatures.”

The plant-based frozen yogurt I ate had maltodextrin and a “frozen dessert stabilizer system,” both of which were used to make sure that the dairy-free concoction still had the mouth-feel of cream.

It was during a talk from the “market intelligence agency” Mintel that I realized it was the texture of the Kraft cookie bar that drew me in so immediately, and prompted my binge. The caramel and pretzel bits provided an exciting bit of crunchy contrast to the otherwise soft cookie.

As the Mintel marketer continued her talk, I learned that 80% of my millennial generation reported that texture influences their snack cravings. We are more into texture, it turns out, than any other generation.

I was immediately horrified. Food companies could guess what snacks I’d like before I even popped them in my mouth. But then I started to wonder: Was adding pretzels to a cookie really that different from what I’d do in my own kitchen?

The food policy world struggles with this exact question.

Some see teams of scientists working to create the most craveable cookie as something sinister, akin to Big Tobacco fine-tuning the amount of nicotine in a cigarette, and adding menthol to make the smoke less harsh on the throat.

“Do the food companies know what is going on? Absolutely they do,” said Todd Wagner, the billionaire founder of FoodFight USA, an organization advocating against ultra-processed foods. “They know it’s addictive, they know it’s got health consequences, this is very similar to cigarettes.”

Others simply see companies like much larger versions of the home cooks who might salt and roast carrots to concentrate their flavor, or who pan-fry gnocchi before dropping them in tomato sauce to improve their texture.

“The last time I checked, anybody who makes a recipe, most of us make it because we want it to taste good,” said Rosales, the IFT official. “Even when I’m thinking of healthy food, I want those to be craveable.”

Was a snack designed in a lab really the same as one cooked in my one-bedroom apartment?

T here’s no telling how many calories I consumed over the course of those two days in Chicago — let alone how much sugar and salt I subjected my body to. If I were to guess, I should probably stay away from Oreos, potato chips, and sodas for the next few months.

But I never truly felt full.

That’s the secret — and the risk — of ultra-processed foods. No matter how “indulgent,” they rarely sit in the stomach like a fibrous piece of celery. The one randomized controlled trial that tested their impact on weight gain found that subjects consumed more calories and gained more weight when they were fed ultra-processed foods than when they were fed a nutrient-matched, minimally processed diet.

“There’s dozens of hypotheses out there, and very strong opinions” on the reasons for the overconsumption and weight gain, said Kevin Hall, the National Institutes of Health researcher who directed the study.

That tendency to overeat could have something to do with the theory that ultra-processed foods mess with the body’s natural hunger hormones. Or it could be that the body digests processed foods faster than whole foods, potentially due to their low fiber content, which typically slows digestion.

By the middle of my first afternoon sampling the food industry’s wares, I did, I admit, feel a strong wave of nausea. I wondered if the 216,778-square-foot exhibit hall that had gobbled me up hours earlier was finally ready to spit me out.

But no, I was just hungry. It was time for another snack.

STAT’s coverage of chronic health issues is supported by a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies . Our financial supporters are not involved in any decisions about our journalism.

About the Author Reprints

Nicholas florko.

Reporter, Commercial Determinants of Health

Nicholas Florko reports on the commercial determinants of health.

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Trump and Allies Forge Plans to Increase Presidential Power in 2025

The former president and his backers aim to strengthen the power of the White House and limit the independence of federal agencies.

Donald J. Trump intends to bring independent regulatory agencies under direct presidential control. Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times

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By Jonathan Swan Charlie Savage and Maggie Haberman

• Published July 17, 2023 Updated July 18, 2023

Donald J. Trump and his allies are planning a sweeping expansion of presidential power over the machinery of government if voters return him to the White House in 2025, reshaping the structure of the executive branch to concentrate far greater authority directly in his hands.

Their plans to centralize more power in the Oval Office stretch far beyond the former president’s recent remarks that he would order a criminal investigation into his political rival, President Biden, signaling his intent to end the post-Watergate norm of Justice Department independence from White House political control.

Mr. Trump and his associates have a broader goal: to alter the balance of power by increasing the president’s authority over every part of the federal government that now operates, by either law or tradition, with any measure of independence from political interference by the White House, according to a review of his campaign policy proposals and interviews with people close to him.

Mr. Trump intends to bring independent agencies — like the Federal Communications Commission, which makes and enforces rules for television and internet companies, and the Federal Trade Commission, which enforces various antitrust and other consumer protection rules against businesses — under direct presidential control.

He wants to revive the practice of “impounding” funds, refusing to spend money Congress has appropriated for programs a president doesn’t like — a tactic that lawmakers banned under President Richard Nixon.

He intends to strip employment protections from tens of thousands of career civil servants, making it easier to replace them if they are deemed obstacles to his agenda. And he plans to scour the intelligence agencies, the State Department and the defense bureaucracies to remove officials he has vilified as “the sick political class that hates our country.”

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