AP Computer Science Principles looks at computing through five big lenses, all year long.
The 5 Big Ideas
Creative Development
Data
Algorithms & Programming
Computer Systems & Networks
Impact of Computing
Computing's Impact
Computing touches nearly everything — social media, medical devices, self-driving cars, how elections are run.
All year, we'll keep coming back to one question:what benefits and risks does each new technology bring?
This Year's Toolkit
We'll write real code all year — starting inJavaScript, first in the console, later moving to graphics and your own game-style project.
Programming Languages
A programming language lets us write instructions in a form that's easier for humans to read and write, which then gets translated down into the binary a computer actually runs.
Programming Languages
There are many programming languages, each with its own rules:
JavaScript
Python
Java
C++
This course uses JavaScript.
What Is Deno?
Deno runs JavaScript outside a web browser — no setup beyond installing it once, and it comes with handy built-in tools likeprompt() for asking the user something right from the console.
Code Editors
A code editor is a specialized text editor built for writing and running code — it can highlight syntax, catch errors, and run your programs, all in one place.
Code Editors
We'll be using Visual Studio Code(VS Code) all year.
Today's Objectives
Installing Deno
Creating a project folder
Writing and running your first JavaScript program
Key Terms
Big Idea
One of the five major themes AP CSP is organized around.
Programming Language
A structured set of rules for writing instructions a computer can run.
JavaScript
The programming language used throughout this course.
Deno
A JavaScript runtime that lets us run code outside a web browser, with useful tools built in.
Runtime
The program that actually executes your code.
Code Editor
A program built for writing, testing, and running code.
'F' → Fullscreen
Build
Set up your development environment and write your very first JavaScript program.
Task 1: Install Deno
Follow your teacher's instructions to install Deno.
[GIF PLACEHOLDER — Installing Deno]
Task 2: Create Your Project Folder
Create a folder to hold all of your work for this class, and open that folder in VS Code.
[GIF PLACEHOLDER — Creating and Opening Your Project Folder]
Task 3: Create Your First Script
Inside your project folder, create a new file named 1-2-hello.js.
[GIF PLACEHOLDER — Creating a New JavaScript File]
Task 4: Write and Run Hello World
Type the following line of code into your file.
Run your program with deno run 1-2-hello.js and check the terminal for the output.
1-2-hello.js
console.log("Hello, world!");
[GIF PLACEHOLDER — Running Your Program]
Checkpoint
Verify your program works correctly.
Example Output
Hello, world!
Reflection
Answer the following questions before submitting your work.
What are the 5 Big Ideas this course is built around, and which one are you most curious about?
Give one example of how computing has changed something in your own life, for better or worse.
What is the difference between a programming language and a code editor?
Submit
Submit the required files to the appropriate dropbox.
