Software Design & Development Flashcards
State the seven stages of the software development process
Analysis, Design, Implementation, Testing, Documentation & Evaluation
analysis stage
To get a clear understanding of the problem in terms of inputs, processes and outputs in order to provide the solution.
design stage
To planning the solution for example writing your pseudocode and creatring a wireframe
implementation stage
Turning the design into a set of computer instructions that the computer can understand; begin coding.
testing stage
To test that the program actually meets the specification; what the program is expected to do
documentation stage
the documentation which is to be distributed with the software is produced; how to use guide or technical installation guide etc
evaluation stage
Evaluation is reviewing the solution against a given criteria.
State what is meant by the functional requirements of a program?
Everything that the program must do highlighting the inputs, processes and outputs
Describe what a programs inputs are.
Anything that has to be entered into the program.
Describe what a programs processes are.
Any calculation or decision that the program has to do.
Describe what a programs outputs are.
Anything that has to be displayed on a screen or sent to a printer.
State the purpose of a variable?
Used to store data.
State the data type that is used to store text/words, alphanumberic data?
String
State the data type that is used to store a single letter or symbol?
Character
State the data type that is used to store a whole number
Integer
State the data type that is used to store a number with a decimal point
Real
State the data type that is used to store a true/false value.
Boolean
State the data structure that is used to store a list.
(1-D) Array
State the appropriate data type that should be used to store a pupils first name.
String
State the appropriate data type that should be used to store someones initial of their surname.
Character
State the approrpriate data type that should be used to store someones age.
Integer
State the appropriate data type that should be used to store someones wage per hour for example £7.40
Real
State the approrpriate data type that should be used to store a true/false option.
Boolean
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.
Array
When declaring an array what 3 things must you include?
Name, type and size
Describe the purpose of a structured diagram.
A visual design technique used to show the steps needed to solve a problem.
Describe the term assign values to variables.
Means putting a value into a variable.
State what this is an example off: SET username to gtennet
Assigning a value to a variable
State the variable name and data type of this: SET username to gtennet
username & string.
State the five arithmetic operations.
addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, power
State what arithmetic operator+ represents
Addition
State what arithmetic operator* represents
Multiplication
State what arithmetic operator- represents
Subtraction
State what arithmetic operator/ represents
Division
State what arithmetic operator^ represents
To the power of
Describe the term concatentation
To combine/merge/join string fields together/
State the six comparison operators.
less than, more than, less than or equal to, more than or equal to, not equal to, equal to
State what comparison operator this represents
Less than
State what comparison operator this represents >
More than
State what comparison operator this represents <=
Less than or equal to
State what comparison operator this represents >=
More than or equal to
State what comparison operator this represents =
Equal to
State what comparison operator this represents <>
Not equal to
Describe what is meant by a complex conditional statement.
Two or more conditions
Is the following an example of a simple or complex statement? IF age >15 THEN DISPLAY “You can buy a lottery ticket”
Simple conditional statement
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”
Complex conditional statement
State the three types of logical operators
AND OR NOT
Describe the logical operator AND
Both sides of the operator must be true for the if statement to succeed
Describe the logical operator OR for example If drink = ‘pepsi’ OR drink = ‘coke’”
Either side of the operator must be true for the if statement to succeed.
Describe what is meant by a fixed loop.
This is where you go around the loop a set number of times.
If you had to write a program that would do something seven times. State the most appropriate computation construct that you should use?
A fixed loop.
Describe what is meant by a conditional loop.
This kind of loop allows you to keep going round the loop until a condition is met.
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?
Conditional loop
Describe what is meant by a predefined function
It is a built in function that does a specific task. That allow the program to do calculation, format values or manipulate text.
State the advantage of predefined functions
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.
State three predefined functions
Round, length, random
Describe how the predefined function round works
It takes a number and returns the nearest whole number.
Describe how the predefined function length works
It will returns the length of a string variable.
Describe how the predefined function random works
It will give you a random number between two values.
Describe the input validation algorithm.
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.
State the three types of programming errors
Syntax, logic, execution
Describe why a syntax error happens.
This error shows that your code breaks a rule about how to use the language you are coding in.
Describe why a logical error happens
This is an error that causes the program to operate incorrectly but not crash.
Describe why a execution error happens
This is an error that occurs when the program is running causing it to crash.
State what is meant by the term fit for purpose?
The program meets the specification
Describe the term robustness
How well a program handles unexpected input. This is determind from testing the exceptional test data.
Describe what is meant by readability
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.
State four ways you can make your code readable.
White space, Internal commentary, Meaningful variable names, Identation
Describe what is meant by making your code more readable with white space.
leaving white space (empty lines) throughout the program, making it easier to read.
Describe what is meant by making your code more readable by using internal commentary.
describes what is going on in your program. It makes it easier for someone else to understand what your program should do.
Describe what is meant by making your code more readable by using meaningful identifiers/variable names
makes it easy to work out what your program is doing and what data is being gathered/used and what for.
Describe what is meant by making your code more readable with indentation
the overall structure of your code. Using indentation well can make your code much easier to read.
Efficient use of coding constructs
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?
