Describe the Program Development

Cycle
 Program Development Cycle
The program development cycle is a series of
steps programmers use to build computer
programs.
1. Analyze Requirements
2. Design Solution
3. Validate Design
4. Implement Design
5. Test Solution
6. Document Solution
 Program Development Cycle
The program development cycle is a continuous
cycle which consists of six steps that form a loop.

Step 1 Step 2
Analyze Design
Requirements Solution

Step 6 Step 3
Document Validate
Solution Design

Step 5 Step 4
Test Implement
Solution Design
 Step 1 – Analyze Requirements

The analysis step consists of three major tasks:

1. Review the requirements

2. Meet with the systems analyst and users
3. Identify input, output, processing, and data
components
 Step 2 – Design Solution
Designing a solution often involves developing a
graphical or written description of the step-by-step
procedures involved in solving the problem
MAIN

Initialization Process Wrap-up

Declare Print Report Read a Accumulate Print Detail Calculate Print Totals
Calculate
Variables Headings Record Totals Line Averages And Averages

Calculate
Regular
Time pay The hierarchy chart above is a tool the
programmer uses during structured design.
Overtime
On the hierarchy chart, program modules
Time pay are drawn as rectangles. All modules are
subordinate to the main module.
Calculate
Gross Pay
 Design Solution Using Control Structures
A control structure, also known as a construct, depicts the logical order of
program instructions in more detail. There are three basic control structures:
1. Sequence Control Structures Action 1 Action 2 Action 3

2. Selection Control Structures True Condition False

Action 1 Action 2

3. Repetition Control Structures

Condition False Action
Condition
Condition 1 Condition 2 Condition 3
True True
Condition
Action 1 Action 2 Action 3 Action
False
Case Control Structure Do-While Control Structure Do-Until Control Structure
Design Solution
Using Flow Chart
as a Design Tool

Flowcharts allow you to

plan and visualize the
program development
process in detail.
 Step 3 – Validate Design
Once programmers develop the solution algorithm using a program
flowchart or pseudo code, they should validate or check the program
design for accuracy to uncover logic errors. Two techniques for
reviewing a solution algorithm are a desk check and a structured
walkthrough. Desk checking involves five steps:

1. Develop various sets of test data (inputs)

2. Determine the expected result (output) for each set of data
3. Step through the solution algorithm using one set of test data and write
down the actual result obtained (output) using the solution algorithm
4. Compare the expected result from Step 2 to the actual result from Step 3
5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for each set of test data
 Step 4 – Implement Design
Implementation of the design includes writing the actual code that translates the
design into a program. As programmers enter a program, they should use comments
to provide documentation for their program.
In the example the Visual Basic code shown below, the lines in red are comment
lines that help to document what is happening in the code that follows. Comments
are very useful for troubleshooting a program and indicating what is supposed to be
happening in a particular part of the program.
Rem THESE FOLLOWING ROUTINES EXTRACT SELECTED DATA MATERIAL FOR Phrases & Sentences

If Left$(KK.FileName, 1) <> "2" And KK.SpecialWindow = "Beginnings" And InStr(LineOriginal(RandomLine), " " + KK.CharacterString) = 0 Then ShowOriginal
If Left$(KK.FileName, 1) <> "2" And KK.SpecialWindow = "Endings" And InStr(LineOriginal(RandomLine), KK.CharacterString + " ") = 0 Then ShowOriginal
If Left$(KK.FileName, 1) <> "2" And KK.SpecialWindow = "Selected" And InStr(LineOriginal(RandomLine), KK.CharacterString) = 0 Then ShowOriginal

If Left$(KK.FileName, 1) <> "2" And KK.SpecialWindow = "Double" Then

N = Len(LineOriginal(RandomLine)): DoubleFound = 0
For x = 1 To N
If Mid$(LineOriginal(RandomLine), x, 1) = Mid$(LineOriginal(RandomLine), x + 1, 1) Then DoubleFound = 1: Exit For
Next x
If DoubleFound = 0 Then ShowOriginal
End If
Rem THESE FOLLOWING ROUTINES EXTRACT SELECTED DATA MATERIAL FOR Words

While Left$(KK.FileName, 1) = "2" And Len(Words) < 32: ' this sets line for words

RandomLine = Int(LastLineCount * Rnd(1) + 1)

 Step 5 – Test Solution
Once a programmer codes and enters the program, the
next step is to test it. Thorough testing is extremely
important. After developers place the program into
production, many users rely on the program and its output
to support their daily activities.
Errors uncovered during this step are usually syntax errors
or logic errors.
Syntax errors are errors in using the code or program
language that the computer doesn’t understand.
Logic errors are errors such as using a formula that is not
correct or not sequencing the program in correct order.
 Step 6 – Document Solution
In documenting the solution, the programmer (1)
reviews the program code, and (2) reviews all the
documentation before turning everything over to
the systems analyst.
In reviewing the code, the programmer removes any “dead code.” This is
code with instructions that the program never executes. This might consist
of a section that the programmer wrote and then later replaced with a
routine that works more efficiently.

The programmer also makes sure there is adequate documentation in the

program so that if changes need to be made in the program later on the new
programmer will be able to easily identify what each section of the program
is supposed to do and can make changes or corrections in the program very
easily without having to spend a lot of time decoding.
Steps in the Program Development Cycle