10: Program Development
- Page ID
- 19924
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Writing or developing programs is easier when following a clear methodology. The main steps in the methodology are:
- Understand the Problem
- Create the Algorithm
- Implement the Program
- Test/Debug the Program
To help demonstrate this process in detail, these steps will be applied to a simple example problem in the following sections.
- 10.1: Understand the Problem
- Before attempting to create a solution, it is important to fully understand the problem. Ensuring a complete understanding of the problem can help reduce errors and save time and effort. The first step is to understand what is required, especially the applicable input information and expected results or output.
- 10.2: Create the Algorithm
- The algorithm is the name for the unambiguous, ordered sequence of steps involved in solving the problem. Once the program is understood, a series of steps can be developed to solve that problem. There can be, and usually are, multiple correct solutions to a given problem.
- 10.3: Implement the Program
- Based on the algorithm, a program can be developed and implemented. The algorithm is expanded and the code added based on the steps outlined in the algorithm. This allows the programmer to focus on the specific issues for the current section being coded including the data types and data sizes.
- 10.4: Test/Debug the Program
- Once the program is written, testing should be performed to ensure that the program works. The testing will be based on the specific parameters of the program.
- 10.5: Error Terminology
- In case the program does not work, it helps to understand some basic terminology about where or what the error might be. Using the correct terminology ensures that you can communicate effectively about the problem with others.