What is the process of instructing a computer using step-by-step commands called?

The process of instructing a computer using step-by-step commands is best referred to as programming. Programming encompasses the broader concept of creating a set of instructions that a computer can understand to perform specific tasks. This includes defining algorithms, logic requirements, and data processing, which are essential components when creating software applications.

While coding and scripting are often used interchangeably in casual conversation, they refer to more specific contexts within the programming process. Coding typically refers to the actual writing of the program in a certain programming language, whereas scripting generally pertains to writing small programs that automate tasks, often in a scripting language that is interpreted at runtime.

Debugging is a separate process that involves identifying and fixing errors within code after it has been written, rather than the act of instructing the computer itself. Thus, the term that most accurately captures the essence of giving a computer step-by-step instructions is programming.