Maintaining Programs | Computer for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Why is it important to create a maintainable program?

• Improve program quality: A program that is easy to understand and modify results in fewer errors and higher overall program quality.
• Reduce development time and costs: A program that is maintainable requires less time and resources to make changes, thereby reducing development time and costs.
• Enables collaboration: When a program is maintainable, it facilitates collaboration among multiple developers on a project by enhancing comprehension and ease of modification.
• Increase program lifespan: A maintainable program is more likely to be regularly updated and supported, extending its lifespan and utility.
• Adapt to changing requirements: A maintainable program can be easily adjusted to meet new requirements or incorporate additional features as needed.

How do you create a well maintained program?

• Use Meaningful Identifiers:
  • Assign descriptive and meaningful names to variables, constants, arrays, procedures, and functions to enhance code readability and maintenance.
  • Avoid single letters or unclear abbreviations that might be confusing to others.
• Use Commenting Feature:
  • Employ comments to elucidate the code's functionality, describing variables, constants, procedures, functions, and any unclear parts.
  • Document assumptions or limitations of the code to provide clarity.
• Use Procedures and Functions:
  • Utilize procedures and functions, which are reusable code blocks, to accomplish specific tasks.
  • Modularize code by employing procedures and functions, facilitating comprehension, debugging, and maintenance.
  • Ensure procedures and functions have clear, descriptive names that convey their purpose effectively.
• Relevant and Appropriate Commenting of Syntax:
  • Comment on individual lines or blocks of code to explain their purpose or behavior.
  • Use syntax commenting to clarify complex algorithms or provide additional insights into code behavior or purpose.