Question

Adding Comments: Choose two of the programs you’ve written, and add at least one comment to each. If you don’t have anything specific to write because your programs are too simple at this point, just add your name and the current date at the top of each program file. Then write one sentence describing what the program does.

Short answer

Select two programs, open them, add comments with your name, date, and a brief program description.

Step-by-step solution

Select Programs

Choose two programs you've previously written that you will add comments to. These can be any simple programs you have, like 'Hello, World!' or a basic math calculator.

Open the Program Files

Use your text editor or integrated development environment (IDE) to open the source code files of the selected programs. These could be files with extensions like ".py" for Python, ".java" for Java, etc.

Add Metadata Comments

At the top of each file, add a comment that includes your name and the current date. You can use the comment syntax for your specific programming language. For example, in Python, use the '#' symbol, in Java, use '//'.

Describe Program Functionality

Below the metadata comments, write one sentence describing what each program does. Ensure this is in a comment so it doesn't interfere with the execution of the program.

Key concepts

Commenting Code

In Python programming, commenting code is a best practice that enhances code readability and maintainability. Comments are snippets of text placed within the code to explain what specific sections do. This is especially helpful for anyone who might read the code later, including the original programmer.

Python uses the `#` symbol to initiate a comment. Anything following `#` on that line is considered a comment and is ignored by the Python interpreter. This allows programmers to include helpful information without affecting how the program runs.

• Why Comment?: Comments help clarify complex code sections and remind you of what your code does.
• Types of Comments: You can use single-line comments for brief explanations and multi-line comments (by starting and ending with triple quotes `'''`) for detailed descriptions.
• Best Practices: Always aim for clarity. Use comments to explain why you used a certain approach rather than what the code line does, as good code is often self-explanatory.

Metadata

Metadata in programming often refers to documentation and descriptions added to the code to provide context. For our exercise, metadata includes adding the programmer's name and the date the code was written or last modified.

Adding such data at the beginning of your code files acts as a reference for anyone working on the code later. It becomes easy to track who wrote the code and when, which is crucial when different people collaborate on a software project.

• Syntax: Use your language's comment symbols to add metadata. In Python, use `# Your Name, Current Date`.
• Benefits: Helps in maintaining and updating software, assists in version control, and makes it easier to revert to older versions if needed.
• Guidelines: Keep it short and make sure you update the date whenever you make changes to the code.

Program Functionality

Describing program functionality in comments is about briefly summarizing what the program or specific parts of it do. This description helps anyone looking at the code to understand its purpose at a glance without deciphering each line.

In Python, after adding your metadata, write a comment summarizing the program. For example, `# This program calculates the sum of two numbers`. This approach helps as your projects grow in complexity, offering a high-level overview before deeper dives into the code logic.

• Reason: Saves time for future reading and understanding of what the code achieves.
• Placement: Place functionality comments immediately after the metadata comments.
• Clarity: Make sure the description is concise yet comprehensive enough to cover the program's primary objective.

Integrated Development Environment

An Integrated Development Environment, or IDE, is a software application that provides comprehensive resources to facilitate software development. IDEs are essential for making programming tasks more efficient and are especially beneficial for beginners.

Common features include a code editor, compiler, debugger, and often a graphical user interface (GUI). Popular IDEs for Python include PyCharm, Visual Studio Code, and Jupyter Notebook. They allow users to write, test, and debug programs all in one place.

• Benefits: Time-saving, as you can write, test, and debug in one window; good IDEs also provide syntax highlighting and error identification.
• Ease of Use: Ideal for new programmers due to their user-friendly interfaces and extensive documentation.
• Choosing an IDE: Consider your project's requirements and your personal preferences. Some IDEs offer extensive plugins and customizations.