_things i learned in flowcharting_

2009-07-01T00:14:00.000-07:00

After one month of studying TLE subject, I’ve learned a lot of things about the computer programming. Our teacher discussed about The Program Development Cycle. The first step in the program development cycle is the review of programming specifications. This step, includes a definition of the input, an explanation of the processing that must be performed and a definition of the output. The second one is the Program Design. Designing a program means planning the logic and detailed steps that will lead to solving the problem. The next one is the Program Coding. After the program has been designed, the program must be coded. It is the process of writing instruction in a programming language that implement the logic developed in the design phase of the program development cycle . The fourth step is program testing, because the program should run perfectly when loaded into main memory for execution. This is also applicable on finding errors in the program. And the last step, is the program documentation .Program documentation consists of recorded facts regarding a program. These facts should be documented in enough detail so program users can understand what the program is to accomplish and how it accomplishes the steps.

My favorite topic is about flowcharting. I already mentioned flowchart in the designing the program. Flowchart is a common type of chart, that represents an algorithm or process, showing the steps as boxes of various kinds, and their order by connecting these with arrows. Flowcharts are used in analyzing, designing, documenting or managing a process or program in various fields. When we think of flowcharting, most imagine a computer programmer tracing an algorithm’s logic path. That is after all, where the concept originated. But I’ve learned that flowcharts serve more functions than the strictly mathematical. It is a clear graphic representation of a process from beginning to end. Creating a flowchart is the first step towards managing a process. Because humans are primarily a visual species, a picture of a process conveys information more efficiently than writing or speaking about it. I also learned about uses of flowcharting: it serves as an efficient means of communication, it serves as analytical tool and it is also a concise form of documentation. Lots of symbols are used in flowcharting. We have the terminal symbol, represented as rounded rectangles, usually containing the word ”start” or “end” to indicate the beginning and end of the program flowchart. The initialization symbol, a “piatos” shape, used to determine intermediate storage areas to be used in flowchart. The process symbol, rectangle in shape and used to indicate instruction which performs manipulation of data. The annotation symbol, that is used to insert remarks. The flow symbol, that is used to show the flow or direction of data. The pre-defined process symbol is used to indicate a transfer of control from the main flowchart to a sub-routine. The decision symbol is used to test a conditional statement. An on-page connector to connect the parts of the program flowchart written on the same page, while the off page connector is also used to connect parts of the program flowchart which extends over several pages. The input/ output symbol which is used to indicate the general input and output activity. These are just the basic symbols used in flowcharting.

TLE!!!!

_things i learned in flowcharting_