Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary School 1

TERM: 2^nd Term

WEEK: 6

CLASS: S.S. 1

DATE:

SUBJECT: Computer Science
TOPIC: Programming steps

Computer programming�(often shortened to�programming) is a process that leads from an original formulation of a computing�problem to executable computer programs. Programming involves activities such as analysis, developing understanding, generating algorithms, verification of requirements of algorithms including their correctness and resources consumption, and implementation (commonly referred to as coding) of algorithms in a target programming language.

Steps Involved in Programming

1. Analyzing the Problem
2. Algorithm�design / Pseudocode
3. Flowchart
4. Coding
5. Debugging
6. Testing
7. Final output
8. Documentation

1. Analyzing the Problem

This is the first�step�of programming and involves getting the following information.�These things are very important for the programmer because it provides him the basis for planning about the programming and to control the potential difficulties that may arise.

2. Algorithm Design

All�instructions�to be performed�at different stages are listed. This is done in simple English language. We may call it the strategic step.

3. Flowchart

It is a�graphical�tool that shows the�steps/stages which are to be executed in a program. All the steps which are written in the second stage are now presented in a diagrammatic manner so as to make it easily understandable. Making off flowchart�helps us in increasing our process of program development because it facilitates our ability to�define the logic, detecting and removing errors in a program design.

Types of flow chart

• System Flowchart shows the processing of the entire system. It describes the input/output devices, the media being used and the flow of data in the system.
• Program flowchart shows the complete steps involved in the execution of a program including I/O, processing, loops and branching. It is more detailed than system flowchart.

4. Coding

In this step, the programmer writes the instructions in a�computer language�to solve the problem. All coding processes depend upon the information obtained from�previous steps. Choice of language depends upon the requirements and facilities available with a language.

5. Debugging

In this stage we�remove all�the errors in the program because when we are coding, there are chances that some mistakes may occur at that time. Here the program is executed manually, called DRY RUN. This is done several times until all the errors are removed from the program and the system becomes error free.

6. Testing

The program is tested�by entering a dummy data (which includes usual, unusual and�invalid�data) to check the behavior and result of the program towards the given data.

7. Final Output

After going through all the above stages, the program is given the TRUE DATA. Here the programmer expects positive results of the program and expects full�efficiency�of the program.

8. Documentation

Most programmers neglect this stage by giving many reasons, but this is very important because this will help the programmer to correct the problems that may occur in the program.

There are two types of documentation

• User Manual�provides the use�complete information�about how to operate the program and what needs to be done when the user face a problem.
• Technical Manual contains the technical information about the program. This is used to get technical details of the program, when the system is not working properly or requires modifications.

ASSESSMENT

1. Computer programming is often shortened to
   (a) progamme
   (b) programming
   (c) compute
   (d) computer
2. Programming involves activities such as the following except
   (a) analysis
   (b) developing understanding
   (c) generating algorithms
   (d) solving maths
3. First�step�of programming
   (a) flowchart
   (b) algorithms design
   (c) analysing the problem
   (d) debugging
4. ___ is a�graphical�tool that shows the�steps/stages which are to be executed in a program
   (a) flowchart
   (b) documentation
   (c) algorithms design
   (d) User manual
5. The stage�at which�all�errors are removed in the program is
   (a) flowchart
   (b) debugging
   (c) testing
   (d) coding

ANSWERS

1. b
2. d
3. c
4. a
5. b

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