The design phase of SLDC is a four-step process starting from production of several

alternative conceptual systems that satisfy the requirements identified during systems

analysis, then selection of a system from the set of alternative conceptual designs that will
go to the detailed design then to the application programming and testing.

Learning Outcomes:

1.  Describe the four steps under the Design Phase.

2.  Explain the need to perform each step and the deliverables from this phase.

4. Topic 4 | Application Programming and Testing

Program the Application Software

The next step is to select a programming language from among the various languages
available and suitable to the application. This include procedural languages like COBOL,
event-driven languages like Visual Basic, or object-oriented programming (OOP) languages
like Java or C++. 

1.  Procedural Languages

This type of language requires the programmer to specify the precise order in which the
program logic is executed.

Procedural languages are often called third-generation languages (3GLs) and the most
dominant language for years in business is COBOL.

2.  Event-driven Languages

This type of language is no longer procedural.  Under this model, the program's code is not
executed in a predefined sequence.  Instead, external actions or "events" that are initiated
by the user dictate the control flow of the program.  Microsoft's Visual Basic is the most
popular example of an event-driven language.

3.  Object-oriented Languages

Central to achieving the benefits of the object-oriented approach is developing a software in

an object-oriented programming (OOP) language.  The most popular true OOP languages
are Java and Smalltalk.  However, the learning curve of OOP languages is steep.  The time
and cost of retooling for OOP is the greatest impediment to the transition process.  Most
firms are not prepared to discard millions of lines of traditional COBOL code and retrain
their programming staffs to implement object-oriented systems.  This lead to the
development of hybrid languages such as Object COBOL, Object Pascal, and C++.
Programming the System

Regardless of the programming language used, the modern programs follow a modular
approach which produces small programs that perform narrowly defined tasks.

Benefits of modular programming:

1.  Programming efficiency

2.  Maintenance efficiency

3.  Control

Test the Application Software

All the program modules must be thoroughly tested before they are implemented.

1.  Testing methodology

2.  Testing offline before deploying online

3.  Create meaningful test data