Software Design & Development

Question 1

State the seven stages of the software development process

Answer 1

Analysis, Design, Implementation, Testing, Documentation & Evaluation

Question 2

analysis stage

Answer 2

To get a clear understanding of the problem in terms of inputs, processes and outputs in order to provide the solution.

Question 3

design stage

Answer 3

To planning the solution for example writing your pseudocode and creatring a wireframe

Question 4

implementation stage

Answer 4

Turning the design into a set of computer instructions that the computer can understand; begin coding.

Question 5

testing stage

Answer 5

To test that the program actually meets the specification; what the program is expected to do

Question 6

documentation stage

Answer 6

the documentation which is to be distributed with the software is produced; how to use guide or technical installation guide etc

Question 7

evaluation stage

Answer 7

Evaluation is reviewing the solution against a given criteria.

Question 8

State what is meant by the functional requirements of a program?

Answer 8

Everything that the program must do highlighting the inputs, processes and outputs

Question 9

Describe what a programs inputs are.

Answer 9

Anything that has to be entered into the program.

Question 10

Describe what a programs processes are.

Answer 10

Any calculation or decision that the program has to do.

Question 11

Describe what a programs outputs are.

Answer 11

Anything that has to be displayed on a screen or sent to a printer.

Question 12

State the purpose of a variable?

Answer 12

Used to store data.

Question 13

State the data type that is used to store text/words, alphanumberic data?

Answer 13

String

Question 14

State the data type that is used to store a single letter or symbol?

Answer 14

Character

Question 15

State the data type that is used to store a whole number

Answer 15

Integer

Question 16

State the data type that is used to store a number with a decimal point

Answer 16

Real

Question 17

State the data type that is used to store a true/false value.

Answer 17

Boolean

Question 18

State the data structure that is used to store a list.

Answer 18

(1-D) Array

Question 19

State the appropriate data type that should be used to store a pupils first name.

Answer 19

String

Question 20

State the appropriate data type that should be used to store someones initial of their surname.

Answer 20

Character

Question 21

State the approrpriate data type that should be used to store someones age.

Answer 21

Integer

Question 22

State the appropriate data type that should be used to store someones wage per hour for example £7.40

Answer 22

Real

Question 23

State the approrpriate data type that should be used to store a true/false option.

Answer 23

Boolean

Question 24

State the approrpriate data type that should be used to store a list of the same data type. For example all surnames names from a class.

Answer 24

Array

Question 25

When declaring an array what 3 things must you include?

Answer 25

Name, type and size

Question 26

Describe the purpose of a structured diagram.

Answer 26

A visual design technique used to show the steps needed to solve a problem.

Question 27

Describe the term assign values to variables.

Answer 27

Means putting a value into a variable.

Question 28

State what this is an example off: SET username to gtennet

Answer 28

Assigning a value to a variable

Question 29

State the variable name and data type of this: SET username to gtennet

Answer 29

username & string.

Question 30

State the five arithmetic operations.

Answer 30

addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, power

Question 31

State what arithmetic operator+ represents

Answer 31

Addition

Question 32

State what arithmetic operator* represents

Answer 32

Multiplication

Question 33

State what arithmetic operator- represents

Answer 33

Subtraction

Question 34

State what arithmetic operator/ represents

Answer 34

Division

Question 35

State what arithmetic operator^ represents

Answer 35

To the power of

Question 36

Describe the term concatentation

Answer 36

To combine/merge/join string fields together/

Question 37

State the six comparison operators.

Answer 37

less than, more than, less than or equal to, more than or equal to, not equal to, equal to

Question 38

State what comparison operator this represents

Answer 38

Less than

Question 39

State what comparison operator this represents >

Answer 39

More than

Question 40

State what comparison operator this represents <=

Answer 40

Less than or equal to

Question 41

State what comparison operator this represents >=

Answer 41

More than or equal to

Question 42

State what comparison operator this represents =

Answer 42

Equal to

Question 43

State what comparison operator this represents <>

Answer 43

Not equal to

Question 44

Describe what is meant by a complex conditional statement.

Answer 44

Two or more conditions

Question 45

Is the following an example of a simple or complex statement? IF age >15 THEN DISPLAY "You can buy a lottery ticket"

Answer 45

Simple conditional statement

Question 46

Is the following an example of a simple or complex statement? IF age >10 AND age <19 THEN DISPLAY "You are most likely at secondary school"

Answer 46

Complex conditional statement

Question 47

State the three types of logical operators

Answer 47

AND OR NOT

Question 48

Describe the logical operator AND

Answer 48

Both sides of the operator must be true for the if statement to succeed

Question 49

Describe the logical operator OR for example If drink = 'pepsi' OR drink = 'coke'"

Answer 49

Either side of the operator must be true for the if statement to succeed.

Question 50

Describe what is meant by a fixed loop.

Answer 50

This is where you go around the loop a set number of times.

Question 51

If you had to write a program that would do something seven times. State the most appropriate computation construct that you should use?

Answer 51

A fixed loop.

Question 52

Describe what is meant by a conditional loop.

Answer 52

This kind of loop allows you to keep going round the loop until a condition is met.

Question 53

If you have to write a program for to check someones password is correct and it will not let you gain access unless the password it right. State the most appropriate computational construct that you should use?

Answer 53

Conditional loop

Question 54

Describe what is meant by a predefined function

Answer 54

It is a built in function that does a specific task. That allow the program to do calculation, format values or manipulate text.

Question 55

State the advantage of predefined functions

Answer 55

Code is already written and tested for you so you know it works so long as you give it the right information it will work in the right way.

Question 56

State three predefined functions

Answer 56

Round, length, random

Question 57

Describe how the predefined function round works

Answer 57

It takes a number and returns the nearest whole number.

Question 58

Describe how the predefined function length works

Answer 58

It will returns the length of a string variable.

Question 59

Describe how the predefined function random works

Answer 59

It will give you a random number between two values.

Question 60

Describe the input validation algorithm.

Answer 60

It is the process of ensuring that any data which the user has entered is within a reasonable range or set. For example write a program that only accepts numbers between 1 and 5.

Question 61

State the three types of programming errors

Answer 61

Syntax, logic, execution

Question 62

Describe why a syntax error happens.

Answer 62

This error shows that your code breaks a rule about how to use the language you are coding in.

Question 63

Describe why a logical error happens

Answer 63

This is an error that causes the program to operate incorrectly but not crash.

Question 64

Describe why a execution error happens

Answer 64

This is an error that occurs when the program is running causing it to crash.

Question 65

State what is meant by the term fit for purpose?

Answer 65

The program meets the specification

Question 66

Describe the term robustness

Answer 66

How well a program handles unexpected input. This is determind from testing the exceptional test data.

Question 67

Describe what is meant by readability

Answer 67

How easy it is to read and understand code. This is important for editing code and also when working in a team someone else can understand what the program is meant to do.

Question 68

State four ways you can make your code readable.

Answer 68

White space, Internal commentary, Meaningful variable names, Identation

Question 69

Describe what is meant by making your code more readable with white space.

Answer 69

leaving white space (empty lines) throughout the program, making it easier to read.

Question 70

Describe what is meant by making your code more readable by using internal commentary.

Answer 70

describes what is going on in your program. It makes it easier for someone else to understand what your program should do.

Question 71

Describe what is meant by making your code more readable by using meaningful identifiers/variable names

Answer 71

makes it easy to work out what your program is doing and what data is being gathered/used and what for.

Question 72

Describe what is meant by making your code more readable with indentation

Answer 72

the overall structure of your code. Using indentation well can make your code much easier to read.

Question 73

Efficient use of coding constructs

Answer 73

Has the programmer used repetition where possible to reduce the amount of code? Has the programmer used arrays where possible instead of declaring many individual variables?