Practical C++ Programming, 2nd Edition

Chapter 7. The Programming Process

It’s just a simple matter of programming.

—Any boss who has never written a program

Programming is more than just writing code. Software has a life cycle. It is born, grows up, becomes mature, and finally dies, only to be replaced by a newer, younger product. Understanding this cycle is important because as a programmer you will spend only a small amount of time actually writing new code. Most programming time is spent modifying and debugging existing code. Software does not exist in a vacuum; it must be documented, maintained, enhanced, and sold. In this chapter we take a look at a small programming project using one programmer. Larger projects that involve many people are discussed in Chapter 23 . Although the final code is fewer than a hundred lines, the principles used in its construction can be applied to programs with thousands of lines of code. Figure 7-1 illustrates the software life cycle.

Figure 7-1. Software life cycle

The major steps in making a program are:

Assignment

It all starts when someone gets a bright idea. Then they usually assign someone else to implement it.

Requirements

Programs start when someone gets an idea and assigns you to implement it. This is written down in a requirements document, which describes, in very general terms, what is wanted.

Specification

This is a description of what the program does. In the beginning, ...