CHAPTER 2

APPLICATION SOFTWARE IN BUSINESS

Development Process
Programming Basic

PART - 2
What is a Program?

■ In computing, a program is a specific set of Instructions (ordered operations) for

a computer to perform.

What Programmers Do?

In general, the programmer’s job is to convert problem solutions into instructions for the
computer.
THE PRGRAMMING PROCESS

Developing a program requires five steps:

■ Defining the problem
■ Planning the Solution
■ Coding the Program
■ Testing the Program
■ Documenting the Program
1. Defining the Problem

■ Analyze the problem or

■ You meet with a systems analyst who outlines the project.

2. Planning the Solution

Two common ways of planning the solution to a problem.

 Flow Chart
 Pseudocode

Flow Chart – A flow chart is a symbolic pictorial representation of an orderly step-by-

step solution to a problem.
It is a map of what your program is going to do and how it is going to do it.

Pseudocode – is an English-like language that you can use to state your solution.
3. Coding the Program

■ Code the program -- that is, to express your solution in a programming language.
■ You will translate the logic from the flowchart or pseudocode – or some other tool – to a
programming language.
There are many programming languages:
 BASIC
 COBOL
 PASCAL
 FORTRAN
 C C++ C#
 PYTHON and many more.
 4. TESTING THE PROGRAM
After coding the program, you test it to find the mistakes.
This step involves these phases:
 Desk- checking
 Translating
 Debugging
Desk- Checking
This phase, similar to proof reading.
In desk-checking, you simply sit down and mentally trace, or check, the logic of the
program to ensure that it is error-free and workable

Translating
A translator is a program that translates your program into language the computer
can understand.
Cont…
■ A by-product of the process is that the translator tells you if you have improperly
used the programming language in some way. These types of mistakes are called
Syntax Errors.
■ The Translator produces descriptive error messages.

Debugging

A term used extensively in programming, debugging means detecting, locating and

correction “bugs” (mistakes) by running the program.
■ These bugs are Logic Errors such as telling a computer to repeat an operation but
not telling it how to stop repeating.
5. Documenting the Program

Documentation is a written detailed description of the programming cycle and specific

facts about the program.
■ Typical program Documentation materials include the origin and nature of the
problem, a brief narrative description of the program, logic tools such as flowcharts
and pseudocode, data-record description, program listings, and testing results.
Question: List and describe the
problems of the traditional file
Environment?