I'd like some information about making a program more flexible (easier to make changes, add info, etc.) please

Question

I need some input for a report for one of my college classes. Thanks! I've posted this once, but I didn't get very many answers, and I'd love a variety!

I just need a really basic answer, no need to go into depth. I am only in my 2nd quarter (as a programming major), and I wasn't able to sign up for any major-specific classes until fall. My knowledge is limited, so any information you can give me would be much appreciated! Give me a great answer, and I'll vote it the best! 10 points! Come on, please? lol!

I just need this information for a sample memo-report.

Answer 1

A flexible program is which could be changed easily.

Programmers should remember the fact that "What's for future?". This simple question points to a serious case. this means what will be happen for the new version and where should be reviewed.

For example imagine that you have wriiten a program for a small hotel accounts reservation. Naturally you have defined many variables and inputs. But what for new version? Is the new version consists of only currecnt abilities? Or there is no another version at all?

This way of think help programmers to design their programs more flexible for future. Sometimes this causes to they change the way doing some action in thier program only because they want to have a easy, possible, and perfect develop.

Somethings help programmers to do so such as:

1) Using comments.
Comments are built in things. they are texts which never compile and get in program but help the developer to understand what happens where?

2) Good naming on variables, methods, classes and...
This means the programmer should choose nearest name to action for a piece of his/her program. For example if he/she have a method which returns an account ID, name it as "GetAccountID" or "ReturnAccID" or ... which is related to the action of method.

3)Using thechnologies
Some programmers like to make everything by themselves. In other word they try to not to use from other's work. This causes the programer spent much time on a project which is not reasonable. If he/she use the thechnologies he have a great succes. He doesn't spend much time and in other words he give a piece of development of his program to the creator of the thechnologoies used. But it's recomended to the programmers to use the famous and trustworthy thechnologies for example thechnologies designed by great computer companies.

Using thechnologies has an other nice result. When you don't know something try to ask it from who knows. If all programmers get use of thechnologies each found something in that which could help other programmer who doesn't knows. This means a WWW help ability.

4)A tip!
What makes your program usable? Yes, providing many tools for user. Each tool or something familar which flush in your mind for one miliseconds points to a +1 point to your application. Add whatever you think to your program to make it usable.

* Many other cases help programmers to have a good program and an easy way to develop, But I haven't a good knowledge about them. I wish to this could help you.

Answer 2

Another way to make a program easier to alter later is to use Constants to store certain bits of information. They are helpful for defining values that dont change unless the practices of the business change.

Answer 3

First and obvious, use an object oriented approach to developing.

Second, and not used as much as it should be, a revision control system like subversion

See http://subversion.tigris.org/

and look at this nice client, since I bet you are a windows user by your question :)

http://tortoisesvn.tigris.org/