Software Development Concepts

A series of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in software development.

User Interface

The inputs and outputs that allow a user to interact with a piece of software.

Input

Data that are sent to a computer for processing by a program.

Output

Any data that are sent from a program to a device.

Program Statement

A command or instruction, sometimes also referred to as a code statement.

Program

A collection of program statements that run one command at a time.

Sequential Programming

Program statements run in order, from top to bottom.

Event-Driven Programming

Some program statements run when triggered by an event, like a mouse click or a key press.

Documentation

A written description of how a command or piece of code works or was developed.

Comment

A form of program documentation written into the program to be read by people.

Pair Programming

A collaborative programming style in which two programmers switch roles.

Debugging

Finding and fixing problems in an algorithm or program.

Development Process

The steps or phases used to create a piece of software.

Event

Associated with an action and supplies input data to a program.

Incremental Development Process

A design approach that breaks the problem into smaller pieces.

Iterative Development Process

A design approach that requires refinement and revision based on feedback or testing.

Plagiarism

The use of material created by someone else without permission.

Program Requirements

Descriptions of how a program functions and user interactions it must provide.

Program Specification

A description of all the requirements for the program.

Syntax Error

A mistake in the program where the rules of the programming language are not followed.

Software

A program or a collection of programs.

Abstraction

A method that allows programmers to break down complex systems into manageable pieces.

Top-down Design Strategy

A design method where a large idea is divided into smaller, more detailed functions.

Complex Systems

Systems that involve multiple levels of abstraction and require careful management.

Sequential vs Event-Driven Programming

In sequential programming commands run in order while in event-driven programming some commands run in response to events.