Question

Before a programmer can design a program he or she must have some basic knowledge about the domain, or area, the program will deal with and must understand exactly what it is that the client wants the program to do. Otherwise the final program may not work correctly or may not meet the client’s needs. Suppose one of your friends, who paints the insides of houses, has asked you to develop a program that determines and displays how much paint is needed to paint a room if the length and width of the room is input. What information are you lacking that you need to write this program? Write at least three questions that you would need to ask your friend before starting the project.

Short answer

2. What is the coverage rate of the paint being used? 3. Are there any windows or doors in the room that will not be painted? If so, what are their dimensions?

Step-by-step solution

Question 1

What are the height of the walls in the room? (Since we only have the length and width of the room, we need to know the height to determine the total area to be painted.)

Question 2

What is the coverage rate of the paint being used? (This is usually measured in square feet per gallon, and we would need this information to calculate the amount of paint needed.)

Question 3

Are there any windows or doors in the room that will not be painted? If so, what are their dimensions? (We need to subtract the area of any windows or doors from the total area to be painted.)

Key concepts

Problem Analysis

Before starting any software project, we must thoroughly analyze the problem at hand. In the context of program design, problem analysis involves understanding what the problem is and how the program will provide a solution. For effective problem analysis, it is critical to gather all the necessary data, expectations, and parameters that define the problem scope.

Returning to the exercise with the painting program, the first step is identifying what is missing from the initial problem statement. You must learn all relevant characteristics of the room, such as the dimensions of any unpainted areas like doors or windows. Only then can you understand the problem's entirety and devise an accurate solution.

Collecting comprehensive details helps avoid misunderstandings later in the development process. This initial understanding significantly impacts the success of the next phases, ensuring the project aligns with client expectations.

Client Requirements

Understanding the specific needs of the client is crucial in designing any program. In software design, client requirements lay the foundation for what the finished software will accomplish. These requirements are essentially the answers to questions about what the software should do, how it should look, and how it should perform. They need to be clear, detailed, and agreed upon before the programming phase begins.

In the case of the painting program, you would ask questions like: "What is the height of the room's walls?", "What type of paint is being used?", and "Are there any areas in the room that won't be painted?" The answers to these questions will shape the functional and non-functional requirements of the program.

Some key elements to consider when discussing client requirements include:

• Functionality: What specific operations will the software perform?
• Performance: How fast should it operate under various conditions?
• User interface: What should the program look like to users?
• Constraints: Are there limitations related to budget, technologies, or deadline?

Clarity and mutual understanding here can help avoid scope creep and ensure the project remains on target throughout the development process.

Software Development Process

The software development process is a structured sequence of stages that guide the creation of a software product, from initial conception to deployment and beyond. Key stages include planning, designing, building, testing, and maintaining the software.

In the case of developing a program to calculate paint requirements, the process might start with detailed planning—where all client requirements are gathered and documented. Afterward, the next steps involve designing the software architecture, coding, and integrating functionalities based on the requirements discussed earlier.

A breakdown of some phases in the software development process includes:

• Planning: Defining objectives and timelines.
• Design: Outlining the user interfaces and user experiences.
• Development: Writing the code and integrating components.
• Testing: Checking for bugs and ensuring all features meet requirements.
• Deployment: Making the application available for use.

Understanding and adhering to this process ensures the software developed is robust, reliable, and meets the user's needs. Ensuring that each stage is meticulously executed allows for better adaptability to changes and improvements as they are identified.