Monday, November 24, 2008

The Five Steps in Creating Programs

Welcome back!

Today we discussed the steps in making a program. No, we're not going backwards in the unit, but we're now thoroughly explaining how to make the program, with baby-steps and easy explanations on how we went through the process. Here, let me explain them to you.

First Step: Defining the Problem

This is a detailed description of what you are trying to accomplish, helping you understand the problem much better. Indicating what information will need to be entered, and what information will be outputted is also very important. These descriptions can range from a few short sentences, to hundreds of words.

Second Step: Designing a Solution

Here you show how you will solve the problem. For this, you will be using~

a) User Interface Designs- Rough sketches of how the form(s) will look, with what data you will need as input, and what controls will be required.

b) Form Settings- This is where you describe every object on the form (their properties, new settings, type of object, and purpose).

c) Flow Charts- Charts that use different shapes with different meaning, showing how the program is made.

Third Step: Code the Solution

Here, just as the title of the step outlines, you code the solution.

Fourth Step: Testing and Debugging the Program

After finishing the program, you must then test it, making sure it works, and is also foolproof. The two part you must go through in this step are:

a) Error Handling- Types of errors (syntax/run-time/logic)

b) Debugging Tools- Setting breakpoints, stepping, debug window, and using the watch.

Fifth Step: Document the Program

This is where you finish the program, and put in final touches. The parts in this step include~

a) General Specifications for the Project- Application name, the date it was created, the programmer(s); List of Filenames- Storage location (directory), project file (MAK), global file (GLOBAL.BAS), the many forms (FRM1, 2, etc).

b) Variable Dictionry- Local/module/global variables.

c) Program Comments- Explaining each line of code in the program.

As you can see, we've learned a lot of new info, and here's hoping I can take it all in!

Posted by Chris Kaminski at 4:25 PM