Chapter 10 Software programming

keyword

(1) A specific word a user wishes to query (or look for) in an Internet search. (2) A specific word that has a predefined meaning in a particular programming language.

data type (field type)

(1) Describes the kind of data being stored at the memory location; each programming language has its own data types (although there is some degree of overlap). (2) In a database, indicates what type of data can be stored in a field and prevents the wrong type of data from being entered into the field.

C#

A Microsoft programming language developed to compete with Java.

class

A category of input identified in object-oriented analysis; classes are defined by information and actions.

test condition

A check to see whether the loop in an algorithm is completed.

program specification

A clear statement of the goals and objectives of the project.

operator

A coding symbol that represents a fundamental action of the programming language.

AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML)

A collection of technologies that allow the creation of web applications that can update information on a page without requiring the user to refresh or leave the page.

fifth-generation language (5GL)

A computer language in which a problem is presented as a series of facts or constraints instead of as a specific algorithm; the system of facts can then be queried; considered the most "natural" of languages.

assembly language

A computer language that allows programmers to write programs using a set of short, English-like commands that speak directly to the central processing unit and that give the programmer direct control of hardware resources; also called assembly language.

second-generation language (2GL)

A computer language that allows programmers to write programs using a set of short, English-like commands that speak directly to the central processing unit and that give the programmer direct control of hardware resources; also called assembly language.

third-generation language (3GL)

A computer language that uses symbols and commands to help programmers tell the computer what to do, making 3GL languages easier for humans to read and remember; examples of 3GL languages include BASIC, FORTRAN, COBOL, C/C++, and JAVA.

fourth-generation language (4GL)

A computer language type that includes database query languages and report generators.

Structured Query Language (SQL)

A database programming language used to construct queries to extract data from relational databases; one example of a fourth-generation language.

integrated development environment (IDE)

A developmental tool that helps programmers write and test their programs; one IDE can be configured to support many different languages.

architecture neutral

A feature of Java whereby code needs to be compiled only once, after which the code can be run on many different CPUs.

programming language

A kind of "code" for the set of instructions the central processing unit knows how to perform.

eXtensible Markup Language (XML)

A markup language that enables designers to define their own data-based tags, making it much easier for a website to transfer the key information on its page to another site; it defines what data is being described rather than how it's to be displayed.

Swift

A new programming language introduced by Apple for developing for iOS and OS X.

syntax

A new programming language introduced by Apple for developing for iOS and OS X.

comment

A note left by a programmer in the program code to explain the purpose of a section of code, to indicate the date the program was written, or to include other important information about the code so that other programmers can more easily understand and update it.

decision point

A place where a program must choose from a list of actions based on the value of a certain input.

system development life cycle(SDLC)

A process used to develop information systems; it consists of the following six steps: problem and opportunity identification, analysis, design, development, testing and installation, and maintenance and evaluation.

compiler

A program that understands both the syntax of the programming language and the exact structure of the central processing unit and its machine language.

C

A programming language originally developed for system programmers.

Visual Basic (VB)

A programming language used to build a wide range of Windows applications.

C++

A programming language; takes C to an object-oriented level.

JavaScript

A scripting language that's often used to add interactivity to web pages; often used for creating Dynamic HTML effects.

statement

A sentence in a code.

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)

A series of tags that define how elements on a website should be displayed in a browser.

algorithm

A set of specific, sequential steps that describe exactly what the computer program must do to complete the required work.

scripting language

A simple programming language that's limited to performing a set of specialized tasks.

Java applet

A small Java-based program.

prototype

A small model of a program built at the beginning of a large project.

service pack

A software update.

editor

A special tool in an integrated development environment (IDE) that helps programmers as they enter code.

VBScript

A subset of Visual Basic, used to introduce dynamic decision making into web pages.

information system

A system that includes data, people, procedures, hardware, and software that help in planning and decision making; a software-based solution used to gather and analyze information.

top-down design

A systematic approach in which a problem is broken into a series of high-level tasks.

pseudocode

A text-based approach to documenting an algorithm.

debugger

A tool in an integrated development environment that helps programmers analyze a program as it runs.

binary decision

A type of decision point in an algorithm that can be answered in one of only two ways: yes (true) or no (false).

loop

A type of decision point in an algorithm. In a loop, a question is asked, and if the answer is yes, a set of actions is performed. Once the set of actions has finished, the question is asked again, creating a loop. If the answer to the question is no, the algorithm breaks free of the loop and moves on to the first step that follows the loop.

beta version

A version of the software that's still under development. Many beta versions are available for a limited trial period and are used to help the developers correct any errors before they launch the software on the market.

syntax error

A violation of the strict set of rules that define the programming language.

rapid application development (RAD)

An alternative program-development method; instead of developing detailed system documents before they produce the system, developers first create a prototype, then generate system documents as they use and remodel the product.

runtime error

An error in a program that occurs when a programmer accidentally writes code that divides by zero, a mathematical error.

logical error

An error in a program that produces unintended or undesired output, where the syntax is correct but some other human error has occurred.

scope creep

An ever-changing set of requests from clients for additional features as they wait longer and longer to see a working prototype.

object

An example of a class in object-oriented analysis.

Java

An object-oriented programming language that has a large set of existing classes.

information

Data that has been organized or presented in a meaningful fashion; the result, or output that users require at the end of a job.

documentation

Description of the technical details of the software, how the code works, and how the user interacts with the program; in addition, all the necessary user documentation that will be distributed to the program's users.

data-flow diagrams

Diagrams that trace all data in an information system from the point at which data enters the system to its final resting place (storage or output).

interpreter

For a programming language, translates the source code into an intermediate form, line by line; each line is then executed as it's translated.

control structure

General term used for a keyword in a programming language that allows the programmer to direct the flow of the program based on a decision.

if else

In C++, a binary decision in the code where the program can follow one of two paths: If the decision is made one way, the program follows one path; if made the other way (else), the program follows another path.

For

In Visual Basic, programmers use the keyword For to implement a loop; after the keyword For, an input or output item is given a starting value, and then the statements in the body of the loop are executed.

Next

In Visual Basic, programmers use the keyword Next to implement a loop; when the Next command is run, the program returns to the For statement and increments the value of the input or output item by 1 and then runs a test cycle.

inheritance

In object-oriented analysis, the ability of a new class to automatically pick up all the data and methods of an existing class and then extend and customize those to fit its specific needs.

reusability

In object-oriented analysis, the ability to reuse existing classes from one project for another project.

derived class

In object-oriented analysis, the modified class.

base class

In object-oriented analysis, the original class.

processing

Manipulating or organizing data into information.

data

Numbers, words, pictures, or sounds that represent facts, figures, or ideas; the raw input that users have at the start of a job.

web services

Part of the Microsoft .NET Framework, programs that a website uses to make information available to other websites.

visual programming language

Programming language that uses graphical blocks to represent control elements and variables.

Active Server Pages (ASP)

Programming language used to build websites with interactive capabilities; adapts an HTML page to the user's selections.

JavaServer Pages (JSP)

Programming language used to build websites with interactive capabilities; adapts the HTML page to the user's selections.

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor)

Programming language used to build websites with interactive capabilities; adapts the HTML page to the user's selections.

JSON

Stands for Javascript Object Notation; a syntax for exchanging information between computers.

variable

Tells the operating system that the program needs to allocate storage space in RAM.

variable declaration

Tells the operating system that the program needs to allocate storage space in RAM.

dynamic decision making

The ability of a web page to decide how to display itself based on the choices the reader makes.

executable program

The binary sequence that instructs the central processing unit to run the programmer's code.

portability

The capability to move a completed solution easily from one type of computer to another.

source code

The instructions programmers write in a higher-level language.

first-generation language (1GL)

The machine language of a central processing unit (CPU); the sequence of bits that the CPU understands.

machine language

The machine language of a central processing unit (CPU); the sequence of bits that the CPU understands.

error handling

The part of a problem statement where programmers describe what the program should do if the input data is invalid or just gibberish.

testing plan

The part of the problem statement that lists specific input numbers the programmers would typically expect the user to enter; the plan then lists the precise output values that a perfect program would return for those input values.

release to manufacturers (RTM)

The point in the release cycle, where, after beta testing, a manufacturer makes changes to the software and releases it to other manufacturers, for installation on new machines, for example.

general availability (GA)

The point in the release cycle, where, after release to manufacturers, software is available for purchase by the public.

compilation

The process by which code is converted into machine language—the language the central processing unit can understand.

method

The process of how a program converts inputs into the correct outputs.

program development life cycle (PDLC)

The process of performing a programming project, which consists of five stages: describing the problem, making a plan, coding, debugging, and testing and documentation.

debugging

The process of running a program over and over to find and repair errors and to make sure the program behaves in the way it should.

programming

The process of translating a task into a series of commands a computer will use to perform that task.

Objective C

The programming language most often used to program applications to run under OS X.

object-oriented analysis

The programming language most often used to program applications to run under OS X.

problem statement

The starting point of programming work; a clear description of what tasks the computer program must accomplish and how the program will execute those tasks and respond to unusual situations.

code editing

The step of programming in which a programmer types the code to be executed.

coding

Translating an algorithm into a programming language.

flowchart

Visual diagram of a process, including the decisions that need to be made along the way.