Program (machine)

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A program is a set of instructions used to control the behavior of a machine. Examples of such programs include:

The execution of a program is a series of actions following the instructions it contains. Each instruction produces effects that alter the state of the machine according to its predefined meaning.

While some machines are called programmable, for example a programmable thermostat or a musical synthesizer, they are in fact just devices which allow their users to select among a fixed set of a variety of options, rather than being controlled by programs written in a language (be it textual, visual or otherwise).

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References

  1. Koetsier, Teun (2001-05-01). "On the prehistory of programmable machines: musical automata, looms, calculators". Mechanism and Machine Theory. 36 (5): 589–603. doi:10.1016/S0094-114X(01)00005-2. ISSN   0094-114X.
  2. Kapur, Ajay; Carnegie, Dale; Murphy, Jim; Long, Jason (2017). "Loudspeakers Optional: A history of non-loudspeaker-based electroacoustic music". Organised Sound . Cambridge University Press. 22 (2): 195–205. doi: 10.1017/S1355771817000103 . ISSN   1355-7718.
  3. Professor Noel Sharkey, A 13th Century Programmable Robot (Archive), University of Sheffield, 2007