An Invitation to Computer Science, 5th Edition

This revision of Schneider and Gersting’s bestselling text now offers a more flexible approach to the CS0 course. The text still features a solid introduction to programming concepts, but the language-specific material has been moved online and expanded. In addition to modules for C++ and Java, optional modules for C#, Python, and Ada are now available. The text also includes new chapters on Security and Entertainment, expanded coverage of wireless networks, and updated feature boxes.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 An Introduction to Computer Science
LEVEL 1 The Algorithmic Foundations of Computer Science
Chapter 2 Algorithm Discovery and Design
Chapter 3 The Efficiency of Algorithms
LEVEL 2 The Hardware World
Chapter 4 The Building Blocks: Binary Numbers, Boolean Logic, and Gates
Chapter 5 Computer Systems Organization
LEVEL 3 The Virtual Machine
Chapter 6 An Introduction to System Software and Virtual Machines
Chapter 7 Computer Networks, the Internet, and the World Wide Web
Chapter 8 Information Security
LEVEL 4 The Software World
Chapter 9 Introduction to High-Level Language Programming
Chapter 10 The Tower of Babel
Chapter 11 Compilers and Language Translation
Chapter 12 Models of Computation
LEVEL 5 Applications
Chapter 13 Simulation and Modeling
Chapter 14 Electronic Commerce and Databases
Chapter 15 Artificial Intelligence
Chapter 16 Computer Graphics and Entertainment: Movies, Games, and Virtual Communities
LEVEL 6 Social Issues in Computing
Chapter 17 Making Decisions about Computers, Information, and Society
Answers to Practice Problems