1.2.3 - Software Development

Question 1

Describe what a software development methodology is

Answer 1

A process or series of processes used in software development.

Question 2

Describe the waterfall lifecycle methodology

Answer 2

• Series of stages - Followed in order - Can go back up the order - Then needs to follow back down in order.
• Progress to the next step is not made until the previous step is completed.
• Uses formal documented stages
• Focuses on the end user at the start
• Each stage in the life cycle feeds information to the next stage

Question 3

In what scenario would it be beneficial to use the waterfall methodology?

Answer 3

• When the requirements are clear and unlikely to change
• Very reliant on getting the definition of requirements correct at the start; changes are harder to add in at a later stage. However, this forces the definition to be well-understood.

Question 4

Describe extreme programming (XP)

Answer 4

• An iterative process designed to allow development to respond to changing user requirements.
• Involves paired programming
• The end user integral throughout XP
• The focus is on good-quality code

Question 5

Describe rapid application development (RAD)

Answer 5

• Use of prototypes
• No formal analysis, or design stages so requirements do not need to be stated at the start (more flexible)
• Reduced development time due to each subtask being given strict time limits.
• The prototype is tested and feedback is obtained from users
• The results of feedback and testing are used to inform the next prototype.

Question 6

Describe the spiral model

Answer 6

• Mostly used for large-scale projects, where risk is a factor.
• Has more focus on risk management; projects may be modified or even dropped if the risk is too great. Prioritises riskiest elements first.
• Has four quadrants (determine objectives, identify and manage risk, develop and test, and plan the next iteration).
• Relies on frequent client feedback to inform future development of prototypes.
• Produces functional prototypes.

Question 7

Describe the main differences between agile and waterfall

Answer 7

• Waterfall needs fixed requirements as it is hard to change - Agile does not
• Waterfall used formal stages that are followed in order - Agile does not
• Waterfall does not involve the user in the development stages - Agile does.

Question 8

What is the pseudocode for a WHILE loop?

Answer 8

while condition
code to execute
endwhile

———–EXAMPLE————–

while answer!=”computer”
answer=input(“What is the password?”)
endwhile

Question 9

What is the pseudocode for a DO WHILE/UNTIL loop?

Answer 9

do
code to execute
until condition

———–EXAMPLE————–

do
answer=input(“What is the password?”)
until answer==”computer”

Question 10

What is the pseudocode for a FOR loop?

Answer 10

for i=x to y
code to execute
next i

———–EXAMPLE————–

for i=0 to 7
print(“Hello”)
next i

Question 11

State the 7 arithmetic operators

Answer 11

Add (+)
Subtract (-)
Multiply (*)
Divide (/)
MOD (Remainder)
DIV (Whole part of division)
^ (Power)

Question 12

State the 6 comparison operators

Answer 12

Equal to (==)
Not equal to (!=)
Less than (<)
Less than or equal to (<=)
Greater than (>)
Greater than or equal to (>=)

Question 13

What is the pseudocode to output?

Answer 13

print(“hello world”)

Question 14

What is the pseudocode to take an input?

Answer 14

VariableName=input(“Please enter your name”)

Question 15

What is the pseudocode for a substring?

Answer 15

stringname.subString(startingPosition, numberOfCharactersToReturn)

Question 16

What is the pseudocode for an IF statement?

Answer 16

if condition then
code to execute
elseif condition then
code to execute
else
code to execute
endif

———–EXAMPLE————–

if entry==”a” then
print(“You selected A”)
elseif entry==”b” then
print(“You selected B”)
else
print(“Unrecognised selection”)
endif

Question 17

What is the pseudocode for a CASE/SWITCH statement?

Answer 17

switch entry:
case “A”: print(“You selected A”)
case “B”: print(“You selected B”)
default: print(“Unrecognised selection”)
endswitch

Question 18

What is the pseudocode for a function?

Answer 18

function triple(number)
return number*3
endfunction

Question 19

What is the pseudocode for a procedure?

Answer 19

procedure greeting(name)
print(“hello”+name)
endprocedure

Question 20

What is the pseudocode for reading the contents of a file?

Answer 20

myFile = openRead(“sample.txt”)

while NOT myFile.endOfFile()
print(myFile.readLine())
endwhile

myFile.close()

Question 21

What is the pseudocode for writing to a file?

Answer 21

myFile = openWrite(“sample.txt”)

myFile.writeLine(“Hello World”)

myFile.close()

Question 22

What is the pseudocode to declare, populate, and print a two-item 1D array?

Answer 22

array names[2]

names[0]=”Ahmad”
names[1]=”Ben”

print(names[1])

Question 23

What is the pseudocode to declare a 2D array and access the first element?

Answer 23

Array board[8,8]

board[0,0]=”rook”

Question 24

What is the pseudocode to declare a 3D array and access the first element?

Answer 24

Array board[8,8,8]

board[0,0,0]=”rook”

Question 25

What is the pseudocode to convert a string to and from upper case?

Answer 25

stringname.upper stringname.lower

Question 26

How do you convert a character to its **ASCII** value?

Answer 26

ASC('A') Returns 65 as the ASCII value

Question 27

How do you convert a character from its **ASCII** value?

Answer 27

CHR(65) Returns ‘A’

Question 28

What is the pseudocode to get a set number of characters from the left or right hand side of a string?

Answer 28

stringname.left(numberOfCharacters) stringname.right(numberOfCharacters)

Question 29

What is **casting**? Give some examples

Answer 29

**Converting from one data type to another** * str(3) - Converts to string * int("32") COnverts to an integer