Programming Languages: Concepts and Features

• Application development involves planning, designing, creating, testing, and deploying applications for various business operations.
• It can be undertaken by large organizations or individual freelance developers, typically following a standard methodology.
• Factors like project size, requirements, customer preferences, team experience, and deadlines influence application development.
• Building custom business apps is a necessary step for future-proofing businesses, enhancing collaboration, increasing efficiency, and improving customer experiences.
• Demand for business apps increasingly exceeds IT's ability to deliver.
• Understanding application development and implementing it at scale needs active involvement from IT and business users.

Benefits of Developing Applications

• Apps help businesses build their brand and gain a competitive advantage.
• Customer engagement is improved through additional channels for accessing products, receiving updates, and providing feedback.
• Branding is enhanced by providing a platform to showcase products/services, values, and mission.
• Operations improve which allows for streamlined processes, reduced costs, plus increased productivity

Data Collection and Analysis

• Businesses can use data on user behavior and preferences to improve marketing and customer experiences.

Main Steps in Application Development

• The app development process is complex, multi-staged, and a collaborative effort.
• It involves planning, designing, building, testing, and launching with different teams and professionals.
• App development is linked with the software development life cycle (SDLC).

Planning and Research

• The app's purpose needs to be clearly defined to all parties in the stage for developers to research.
• Marketers study feasibility/demand, while business teams analyze competition/growth opportunities..

Design and Prototyping

• Developers define a design which satisfies the requirements to create draft sketches for wireframes.
• Developers visualize the app’s structure to identify potential problems.

Code Development

• Developers write the code the app needs based on iterations/initial testing.
• Includes front-end (user side, UX/UI) and back-end (server side) development.

Testing and Optimization

• The app is formally tested with users to verify functions/usability.
• Identifies user difficulties overlooked during prototyping.

Release and Maintenance

• After testing, the app will be released to production.
• Teams monitor for bugs/issues and respond quickly, changes undergo strict testing and control.

Application Development Methodologies

• There are various methodologies for application development, each with its own approach to managing the software development process.

Waterfall

• A linear, sequential approach to software development that completes each phase before moving to the next.
• Phases include requirements gathering, design, development, testing, and deployment, suited for projects with well-defined requirements/scope.

Agile

• An iterative approach where the development process is broken into sprints.
• Each sprint involves planning, development, testing, and review, for changing requirements/evolving scope.

DevOps

• A methodology emphasizing collaboration between development and operations teams.
• Aims to improve the speed, reliability, and quality of software development through continuous integration, testing, and delivery.

Rapid Application Development (RAD)

• A faster, more iterative approach focusing on building a working prototype quickly.
• Best for projects with tight deadlines and changing requirements with an emphasis on teamwork.

Scrum

• An Agile methodology emphasizing teamwork, collaboration, and accountability, involving short sprints, and regular meetings.
• Suited for complex projects with changing requirements.

Lean

• Emphasizes continuous improvement, eliminating waste, and maximizing customer value.
• Best for delivering high-quality software quickly and efficiently.

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

• A structured process for designing, developing, and testing good-quality software.
• A methodology defining the entire procedure of software development.
• The goal is to deliver high-quality software to meet user needs.

Stages of the Software Development Life Cycle

Planning

• Planning and Requirement Analysis a crucial first-stage involving inputs from customers and sales/market surveys.
• Information from this analysis which forms the basic project is defined in the SRS (Software Requirement Specification).

Defining Requirements

• All software requirements are specified with approval from stakeholders to specify defined criteria in the project cycle.

Designing Architecture

• SRS is a reference for software designers creating the software's best architecture using the Design Document Specification (DDS).
• Most logical design is chosen after DDS assessment to make it suitable for software designers to come up with the best architecture.

Developing Product

• Fundamental product development starts as per the DDS by using specific programming code with conventional programming tools
• In software regulations Languages such as C/C++, Python, JAVA, etc. are implemented.

Product Testing and Integration

• Testing of the constructed software is necessary to ensure its proper functionality.

Deployment and Maintenance

• The product is released as a controlled package according to the organization's determined strategy, and assessed in a modern industrial environment.

Software Development Life Cycle Models

• There are more than 50 SDLC models in use, each with advantages and disadvantages for specific software development projects.

Waterfall Model

• Is a fundamental software development life cycle with a very simple structure
• Is no longer in practice due less flexible nature which makes completion unable to be changed with changes to project

Agile Model

• Is capable of quick project completion as the main goal for adapting to changing requests

Iterative Model

• Each cycle results in a semi-developed but deployable version until final cycle that ensures product is finished to specification

Spiral Model

• Provides support for risks to project development

V-Shaped Model

• Each phase is integrated with a testing phase to verify or validate

Big Bang Model

• Used to describe an informal and unstructured approach to software development

How to choose an SDLC Model

• Choosing the correct SDLC model is important for project success. Here are the key factors to consider:

Project Requirements

• Use Waterfall or V-Model if you have Clear Requirements
• Use Agile or Iterative models if you are Working With Changing Requirements

More factors to consider

• If you have Small Projects: Use Waterfall or RAD
• For Large Projects you may need flexibility: Use Agile, Spiral, or DevOps
• If your team is Experienced: Use Agile or Scrum
• For Less Experienced Teams wanting structures: Use Waterfall or V-Model
• If there is Frequent Client Feedback needed: Use Agile, Scrum, or RAD
• For Minimal Client Involvement needed: Use Waterfall or V-Model
• With a Fixed Time and Budget: Use Waterfall or V-Model
• With Flexible Time and Budget: Use Agile or Spiral
• with High-Risk Projects: Use Spiral
• For Low-Risk Projects Use Waterfall
• Quick Release Needed Use: Agile or RAD
• Longer Development needed: Use Waterfall or V-Model
• For Long-Term Maintenance: Use Agile or DevOps
• Expecting Minimal Maintenance: Use Waterfall or V-Model
• If Stakeholders expect High Engagement choose: Agile or Scrum
• if stakeholders want to take a Low Stakeholder Engagement then chooseL Waterfall or V-Model

Programming Paradigm

• A programming paradigm is a basic technique and programming style that provides a set of principle concepts and design techniques
• There are new paradigms which are developed over time as the code evolves and new code techniques are created

Imperative programming paradigm

• It is one of the oldest programming paradigm based on the Neumann architecture where It functions through assignment statements and features step by step tasks
• The three broad categories: Procedural, OOP and parallel processing. These paradigms are as follows:

Procedural programming paradigm

• Has the ability to reuse code as a boon when in use

Object oriented programming

• The program is written as a collection of classes and objects with an emphasis on data rather procedure

Parallel processing approach

• Processing can occur through program instructions that utilizes multiple processors as a divide and conquer technique

Declarative programming paradigm

• It is divided as Logic, Functional, and Database in order to express the logic of computation

Logic programming paradigms

• Creates a knowledge base and utilizes artificial intelligence or machine learning to produce results

Functional programming paradigms

• Is language independent and it means for computation in series of execution through mathematical functions that hide their implementation

Database/Data driven programming approach

• Is based on data related movements to define a step by step basis that applies to streams of structured data

What is a programming language?

• A tool that allows programmers to use language and code software to communicate with machines, such as computers

Features of Programming Languages

• Syntax, Data Types and Variables are used for computer languages to produce code that is readable, maintainable and has structured logic flows

Types of Programming Language

• Low-Level programming languages are languages that provide little abstraction between the language itself and the processor's instructions. like Binary code, Machine language, and Assembly language
• Middle-level Language (MLL) as the name would suggest refers to lies between high or low code like: C, Java, and C++
• High-level Languages has the greatest abstraction of Machine code like: Java, JavaScript, Pascal, PHP, Swift, etc.

Types of classifications for Types of Programming Languages:

• Sequential format languages are called Procedural Languages like: Java, Pascal, BASIC etc. In cases where a program is written based on mathematical functions and useful functions, the languages are defined as Functional languages like: Scala, Haskell, F# etc.
• When programs are a set of objects the language is referred to as an Object-oriented language such as: Python, Ruby, C++ etc. Some languages can be a scripting language and are interpreted in runtime like: Python, Perl, PHP, and Bash.
• Programs can have logical relationships versus commands and thus these languages are called as logic languages: Prolong, Alma -0, and Absys.

Other common language

• front-end languages pertain data to the user like: CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), JavaScript, React etc.
• back-end languages which address serve side for programmers and are referred to as : PHP, JavaScript, PHP, and Python.
• Compiled Languages convert the code into machine language through : C, C++, and Rust
• Interpreted languages are the languages that skip compiler and instead are interpreted during execution or runtime. Some friendly languages in this category are Python, JavaScript, PHP

Most Commonly Used Programming Languages

• Languages that are suggested to know are in the following: Python, C++, Kotlin, Perl, JavaScript, Ruby, Rust, R, C#, C, Objective-C, Lua, PHP, Typescript, Scala, Shell Scripting, MATLAB, Dart, Java, and Swift

C Language

• C is a well-known easy, flexible, and simple general-purpose programming language for computers, as a mix for applications such as Text editors, compilers, network devices, and many more.

JavaScript

• JavaScript is a type of scripting language that can be used on both the client-side and server side as dynamic websites.
• It assists programmers in creating dynamic websites as well as mobile applications, servers and games, animated graphics, and more.

Python

• Python is one of the most commonly used languages and is a user-friendly and easy-to-use general-purpose language, created in the early 1990s as a functional programming language
• It is considered as one of the most commonly employed to develop machine learning, artificial intelligence, game development, Big Data, GUI-based desktop applications, as well as Robotics.

PHP

• PHP is a shorthand for Hypertext Preprocessor, developed in 1994 and is a popular go-to language that are used for many.
• It allows for safe coding of HTML, CSS as well as JavaScript codes being utilized.

Ruby

• Ruby is an open-source, general-purpose completely object-oriented, pure programming language that was released by the company in 1993, and can commonly be used for web development and intranet applications.

How to Decide Which Programming Language to Learn

• Programming language of learning may have: ( Current Skill Level, End Goals, Projects Ideas and Needs, Job Market Demands, Personal Interests, and the languages Compatibility

What is an IDE?

• An integrated development environment (IDE) which is a software application that helps programmer to more efficiently build software. This helps with editing, building, testing, and packaging

Why are IDEs important?

• Integrated development environments (IDEs) includes functionality past basic text editing through a central interface and more efficient, development, such as:
• Code Editing Automation, Syntax Highlighting, Intelligent code completion, Refactoring Support, Local build automation, Compilation, Testing and Debugging

Types of IDEs

• Local IDEs which install directly through the user
• Cloud IDEs that assist developer with writing, editing, and making code through local browsers and without the software being downloaded.

How to choose an IDE

• Consider The Programming Language to code in that can often dictate the choice of the IDE or Dedicated IDEs that suite the languages syntax. The operating system is also an important factor to consider for better performances across different systems.

The 3 common features in most IDEs

• Are the source code editor, build automation, and debugger with added features as Automated Testing and UI Enhancement.

Explore key aspects of programming languages, from abstraction and commenting to memory management. Understand the differences between low-level, middle-level, and high-level languages. Learn about syntax analysis and language selection for software projects.