Programming Basics: Compilation and Interpretation
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Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of program maintenance?

  • To test programs
  • To update software so that it continues to be useful (correct)
  • To create a new program
  • To translate high-level languages into machine language
  • What is a programming language?

  • A set of rules used to write instructions to the computer (correct)
  • A type of software
  • A set of hardware components
  • A set of instructions given to a programmer
  • What is the main difference between high-level languages and low-level languages?

  • High-level languages require less coding detail, while low-level languages require more coding detail (correct)
  • High-level languages are used for gaming, while low-level languages are used for business applications
  • High-level languages are faster, while low-level languages consume less storage
  • High-level languages are used for mobile devices, while low-level languages are used for desktop computers
  • What is the purpose of a compiler or an interpreter?

    <p>To translate high-level languages into machine language</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of a low-level language?

    <p>Assembly language</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of test is typically run by companies that sell software?

    <p>Beta test</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the benefit of using high-level languages?

    <p>They make programs easier to write</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of documentation in program maintenance?

    <p>To reflect what problems occurred and what program changes were made</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of a high-level language?

    <p>Visual Basic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the benefit of program maintenance?

    <p>It extends the life of a program</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Program Development Life Cycle

    • Program development is the process of creating new programs, and the Program Development Life Cycle (PDLC) is the process associated with creating successful applications programs.
    • PDLC consists of five phases: program analysis, program design, program coding, debugging and testing, and program maintenance.

    Program Analysis

    • Problem analysis is the first phase of PDLC, where a systems analyst and programmer review specifications and talk with users to fully understand what the software should do.
    • The outcome of problem analysis is documentation, which includes:
      • Program specifications
      • Timetable
      • Language to be used
      • Testing plan
      • Required documentation

    Program Design

    • Program design is the second phase of PDLC, where planning tools are used to create a detailed design of the program.
    • Program design tools include:
      • Flowcharts
      • Pseudocode

    Program Design Tools

    • Flowcharts use geometric symbols and relational operators to provide a graphic display of the sequence of steps involved in a program.
    • Flowcharts follow the same logical sequence as the program statements.
    • Different symbols are used to represent different actions, such as start/stop, decision, input/output, processing, and looping symbols.

    Program Design: Control Structures

    • Sequence control structure is a series of procedures that follow one another.
    • Controlling a repetition structure requires modifying the flowchart to change the value of the loop variable.
    • Examples of program design include:
      • Average of 10 numbers using iteration with a while loop
      • Calculating the area of a circle using pseudocode

    Program Design: Pseudocode

    • Pseudocode uses English-like statements in place of graphic symbols.
    • Pseudocode is easy to modify and can be embedded into a program as comments.
    • Examples of pseudocode include:
      • Calculating the average grade for a class of 100 students
      • Displaying "pass" or "fail" based on a student's grade

    Program Coding

    • Coding is the third phase of PDLC, where the program is written in a programming language.
    • The programming language must be chosen, and coding standards should be adhered to.
    • Reusable code and data dictionaries should be used to translate the coded program into executable code.

    Program Debugging and Testing

    • Debugging is the process of making sure a program is free of errors or bugs.
    • Preliminary debugging finds syntax or logic errors, and testing can consist of alpha or beta testing.
    • Types of errors include:
      • Syntax errors: occur when the programmer has not followed the syntax rules of the language.
      • Logic errors: result when the command syntax is correct but the program is producing incorrect results.
      • Runtime errors: occur when the program is running, such as dividing by zero or accessing a non-existent file.

    Program Maintenance

    • Program maintenance is the process of updating software to ensure it continues to be useful.
    • Maintenance is a costly process, but it can be used to extend the life of a program.
    • Documentation consists of amended program packages reflecting what problems occurred and what program changes were made.

    Categories of Programming Languages

    • Machine and assembly languages are called low-level languages, because they require programmers to write instructions at the finest level of detail.
    • High-level languages require less coding detail and make programs easier to write, but need to be translated into machine language before they can be executed.
    • Examples of high-level languages include:
      • BASIC
      • COBOL
      • Pascal
      • C
      • Java
      • Python

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    Description

    Learn about the difference between compilation and interpretation in programming, including the role of compilers and interpreters in converting source code to executable code.

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