← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

Program development life cycle

The four ordered stages of building a program: analysis (what is needed), design (plan it), coding (write it) and testing (check it works).

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 7b Decomposition and Sub-systems — Module 15

Understanding Program development life cycle in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

What it does: Coding follows design. It produces the program itself, and iterative testing of small parts happens during this stage. Analysis comes first. You must understand the problem and the requirements before you plan or write anything. Testing is often iterative. Each sub-system or section can be tested as it is written, which finds errors early. Testing runs the program with test data to check it works and meets the requirements found in analysis.

Common mistakes: Design is stage 2 and coding is stage 3. Line 2 should read 'Stage 2: Design'. The order is analysis, design, coding, testing. Coding produces the program code. A structure diagram is a design-stage output, so line 3 should be 'Coding: program code'.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 107–118) and word search (Modules 94–118).

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Learning
Duo
Which list shows the four stages of the program development life cycle in the correct order?
Analysis, design, coding, testingAnalysis, coding, design, testing
Matches
coding -> analysis -> design -> testing
↓
The stages are in the wrong order. Coding is placed first, but the problem must be analysed and the solution designed before any code is written.
Applying
Meanings
Term
analysis, design, coding, testing
Meaning
The four ordered stages of building a program: analysis (what is needed), design (plan it), coding (write it) and testing (check it works).
Practice
// Program development life cycle
Testing
Gaps
CALL ()
Check Answer
Spots
1Stage 1: Analysis
2Stage 2: Coding

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Quick Questions

1. Which list shows the four stages of the program development life cycle in the correct order?
A. Analysis, design, coding, testing ✓
B. Analysis, coding, design, testing
Correct order: analysis, design, coding, testing. You must plan the solution (design) before you write the code.
2. Which stage comes FIRST in the program development life cycle?
A. Analysis ✓
B. Coding
Analysis comes first. You must understand the problem and the requirements before you plan or write anything.
3. What does the design stage produce?
A. The finished working program
B. Structure diagrams, flowcharts or pseudocode ✓
Design produces plans of the solution, such as structure diagrams, flowcharts and pseudocode. The working program comes from the coding stage.
4. Which stage is where the program is written in a programming language?
A. Coding ✓
B. Design
Coding is where the algorithm from the design is turned into program code. Design only makes the plan.
5. What does the analysis stage produce?
A. A set of test results
B. A clear list of the problem and its requirements ✓
Analysis identifies the problem and what the program must do (the requirements). Test results are produced in the testing stage.

Match the Pairs

analysis → Stage 1: find out what the problem is and what the program must do (the requirements).
design → Stage 2: plan the solution using structure diagrams, flowcharts and pseudocode before writing any code.
Coding is the third stage: the design is turned into a program, and each part is tested as it is written. → coding
The four stages of the program development life cycle in the correct order. → analysis -> design -> coding -> testing
coding -> analysis -> design -> testing → The stages are in the wrong order. Coding is placed first, but the problem must be analysed and the solution designed before any code is written.
design: find out what the user needs and write the requirements → This describes analysis, not design. Design is where the solution is planned with structure diagrams, flowcharts or pseudocode.

Key Term

analysis, design, coding, testing
The four ordered stages of building a program: analysis (what is needed), design (plan it), coding (write it) and testing (check it works).

Fill in the Blanks

1. CALL Analysis() CALL Design() CALL Coding()
Hint: Type the name of the stage that comes after analysis and before coding.
2. CALL Design() CALL Coding() CALL Testing()
Hint: Type the name of the final stage, where you check that the program works.
3. CALL Analysis() CALL Design() CALL Coding()
Hint: Type the name of the first stage, where you find out what the program needs to do.
4. CALL Coding(part1) CALL Testing(part1) CALL Coding(part2)
Hint: Type the stage that checks each part straight after it has been written.
5. stage ← 1 // Analysis stage ← 2 // Design stage ← 3 // Coding
Hint: Type the number that shows where coding comes in the order of the stages.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Stage 1: Analysis
B Stage 2: Coding
C Stage 3: Coding
D Stage 4: Testing
Line B — Design is stage 2 and coding is stage 3. Line 2 should read 'Stage 2: Design'. The order is analysis, design, coding, testing.
Question 2
A Analysis: requirements list
B Design: flowchart
C Coding: structure diagram
D Testing: test results
Line C — Coding produces the program code. A structure diagram is a design-stage output, so line 3 should be 'Coding: program code'.
Question 3
A Analysis: write the program
B Design: plan the solution
C Coding: write the program
D Testing: check it works
Line A — Analysis is about finding out what the problem is and what is needed. Writing the program is coding, so line 1 should be 'Analysis: find the problem'.
Question 4
A FOR module ← 1 TO 5
B CALL TestModule(module)
C CALL TestModule(module)
D NEXT module
Line B — Each module must be coded before it can be tested, so line 2 should be CALL CodeModule(module). Testing happens repeatedly as the code is written.
Question 5
A stages[1] ← "Analysis"
B stages[2] ← "Design"
C stages[3] = "Coding"
D stages[4] ← "Testing"
Line C — Cambridge pseudocode assigns a value with the ← arrow, not =. Line 3 should be stages[3] ← "Coding".

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