Check you understanding of IDE at AS level first
Software tools - Describe the types of software tool that have been designed to assist the software engineering process.
Software tools - Explain the role of appropriate software packages in systems analysis, systems specification, systems design and testing.
Software tools - Explain program version management.
Engineering - Application of science, tools and methods to find cost effective solutions to problems. When designing a problem should have a cost effective solution
Software Engineering - It is defined as a systematic, disciplined and quantifiable approach for the development, operation and maintenance of software
Characteristics - software is developed and engineered it is not manufactured, it noes not run and it is custom built.
Software crisis can occur if a project runs over budget, overtime, is inefficient, low quality and doesn't meet requirements. Software Engineering can ensure this doesn't happen by the development team identifying a suitable system development life cycle model to use. Software Engineering is the term given to the process of developing software, including its testing, debugging, documentation and maintenance.
A CASE tool is a software tool which provides a number of functions which assist with the design and testing of a computer system / program.
provides a data dictionary
includes a graphics / diagram production feature
may provide repositories of reusable code
may provide project management tool(s)
may incorporate version control
may carry out report generation
may include prototyping tool
may include application generator
may include code generator
A link loader is a software tool which combines already compiled modules/sub programs into the executable program
Example of an error would be:-
link loader cannot find a compiled module/subprogram i.e. it doesn't exist
the number or type of parameters provided is wrong
An application generator is a software tool which is used to assist and speed-up the creation of a (complete) system.
provides a complete environment to support the programmer
may include source code generator, compiler, etc
usually creates code automatically
may include an interface generator
may include a debugger
Features of a code editor designed to help with writing and editing code
Auto completion or code completion - it suggests or complete the function being types including variable that already exists
Matches brackets - for you as it detects missing for you
Syntax checks - recognises and highlights errors in syntax during code input.
Formatting - colour changing of variables.
Stepping - execution of code one line at a time. it enables the programmer to see the progress through the program
This allows the programmer to examine each line of code in isolation to check that it is behaving as intended
Break Points - special marker that pauses execution of code at a preset position.
Whilst paused the programmer inspects the test environment (registers, memory, files etc) to check that the program is functioning correctly.
Variable watch - used to view values in global and local variables as the ocde is executed in debug mode.
Can be set to continually inspect variables which will be updated as the code is stepped through.
Error diagnostics - Provision of messages relating to errors in the program
Store dump - lists the entire contents of memory at a specific point
Version control is necessary when developing computer programs to ensure if programmer A modifies current version and programmer B modifies an easrlier version, neiother version will have both modification. This ensures any amendments must be made to the most recent version.