Introduction

Although this manual assumes that its reader is already familiar with the basic notions of computer and programming, it may be appropriate to start out with the explanation of some concepts and their terminology. We recognize that — with rare exceptions — programs are written — more appropriately: designed — with the purpose of being interpreted by a computer. The computer then performs a process, i.e. a sequence of actions, according to the specifications given by that program. The process is also called a computation.