Definition of Algorithm and Process of Building an Application

Table of Contents
P1 Provide a definition of what an algorithm is and outline the process in building an application...........1
What is an algorithm?.............................................................................................................................1
Process of building an application:..........................................................................................................2
Pseudocode.............................................................................................................................................4
Flowchart:................................................................................................................................................4
P2 Give explanations of what procedural, object-orientated and event-driven paradigms are; their
characteristics and the relationship between them....................................................................................5
Integrated Development Environment (IDE):..........................................................................................6
References...................................................................................................................................................7
P1 Provide a definition of what an algorithm is and
outline the process in building an application.
What is an algorithm?
An algorithm is a series of distinct and explicit instructions that must be obeyed to achieve the
desired outcome. In other words, algorithms are all the steps that must be present in the input
before the intended result is displayed.
(Anon., n.d.)
The complete algorithm is composed/based on three steps:
1. INPUT: What we already know or what we'll need to get started

2. ALGORITHM: Instructions that must be followed to the letter.
3. OUTPUT: The end goal that we're aiming for.
It is not only in mathematics that algorithms are used, but in everyday life as well. If, for
example, you have guests coming over and need to prepare dinner, you will consult the
cookbook and follow the procedure step by step for the desired dish, but the result will
not be what you hoped for if you neglect the steps or maybe one of them. Here, too,
even the slightest misstep can result in disaster.
Process of building an application:
 Defining or analyzing the problem
 Design (Algorithm)
 Coding
 Documenting the program.
 Compiling and running the program
 Testing and Debugging
 Maintenance
1. Defining or analyzing the problem:
 To narrow down the scope of the issue, a preliminary inquiry is necessary.
 It is easier to comprehend an issue when we have a clear definition of it.
 It is also known as program Analysis.
Ex: Program to charge customers’ bills at a coffee shop.
2. Design (Algorithm):
A design shows how to get from the problem to the code that solves it.
The well-designed program is likely to be:
 Easier to read and understand later.
 Reduction in bugs or errors
 Adding new features is easy
 Easier to program in the first place.
3. Coding:
 An algorithm expressed in programming languages is called Program.
 Writing a program is called Coding.
 The logic that has been developed in the algorithm is used to write program.
4. Documenting the program:
 How the program works and how to use the program (user manual).
 How to maintain the program (developer manual).
 Details of programs, or pieces of programs, are easily forgotten or confused
without suitable documentation.
5. Compiling and running the program:

 Compiling is the process of putting a source program into a form that a computer
can understand.
 The compiler is part of the system software.
It examines each instruction for its correctness. It does the translation.
 During the execution.
The software is installed on the computer's hard drive.
Execution of the program's instructions takes place.
6. Testing and Debugging:
 Testing:
 Running a programme with the objective of finding and resolving problems is
known as software testing.
 If the projected output doesn't match the actual result, testing is required.
 Testing takes place at every stage of the development process.
 Initially, requirements can be tested for its correctness.
 Programs are checked using numerous test criteria and the major ones are
provided here. Test if each statement in the program gets performed at least
one (Basic path testing).
Test whether every branch in the program is traversed at least once (control
flow).
 Debugging:
 Debugging is the process of identifying and repairing mistakes.
 Programs may contain logical faults which cannot be detected during
compilation.
 Debugging is the process of identifying their root causes.
 One method is to print out the intermediate findings at crucial places in
the algorithm.
 Another way is to use support from the IDE.
 Testing vs Debugging.
 Testing means detecting errors.
 Debugging means diagnosing and correcting the root causes.
7. Maintenance:
 Program maintenance
 Continuing process of maintenance and modification
 To keep pace with changing requirements and technologies
 Maintainability of the program is achieved by :
 Modularizing it or Providing proper documentation for it
 Following standards and conventions (naming conventions, using symbolic
constants, etc.)