There are many flavors of data. Numbers are one class of data. Data represents information, but the concrete interpretation is up to us. For example, a number like 37.51 may represent a temperature, a time, or a distance. Thus, we may think of primitive operations as the words of a foreign language and of programming as forming sentences in this language.
Some programs are as small as essays.
Others are like sets of encyclopedias. Writing good essays and books requires careful planning, and writing good programs does, too. Small or large, a good program cannot be created by tinkering around. It must be carefully designed . Designing programs properly must be practiced from our very first day of programming.