Programming Help for Beginners
We write programs to instruct computers. When programming using a high level programming language like C++ or Java, we are using a syntax that is somewhat closer to human languages. However, we use these programs as inputs to either compilers or interpreters to be converted to computer understandable binary format. For this reason, as far as the program code adheres to the syntax of the used programming languages, the compilers and interpreters never bother about the layout or visual formatting of the program code. However, as human programmers, we ourselves need to bother about the aesthetics of the program code.
What is a Coding Standard?
A coding standard is a set of guidelines, rules and regulations on how to write code. Usually a coding standard includes guide lines on how to name variables, how to indent the code, how to place parenthesis and keywords etc. The idea is to be consistent in programming so that, in case of multiple people working on the same code, it becomes easier for one to understand what others have done. Even for individual programmers, and especially for beginners, it becomes very important to adhere to a standard when writing the code. The idea is, when we look at our own code after some time, if we have followed a coding standard, it takes less time to understand or remember what we meant when we wrote some piece of code.
Coding Standards Make a Difference
Look at the following example:
int volume(int i, int j, int k) {
int vol;
vol = i * j * k;
return vol;
}
Looking at this code at a glance, it takes some time for one to understand that this function calculates the volume. However if we adhere to a naming convention for variables and method names, we could make the code more readable.
Here are few sample conventions:
int calculateVolume(int height, int width, int length) {
int volume = 0;
volume = height * width * length;
return volume;
}
It takes more time to type this code, however this saves far more time. This code is far more readable than its original version. With a little bit of effort, we could make the code much more understandable.
The Benefits
It is not only the readability that we get through a coding standard in programming. Writing more secure code could also be encouraged through a coding convention. As an example, in C++ we could say that each pointer variable must be initialized to NULL.
char* myName = NULL;
This ensures that we would not corrupt memory while using this pointer variable.
Code readability is just one of the aspects of maintainability. Coding standards help a great deal with program maintainability, our ability to change programs with ease. Consistency imposed through a coding standard is a key factor to achieve success in maintaining prorams.
Defining Your Own Coding Standard
A programmer can define his or her own coding convention and adhere to that in writing programms. However there are many coding conventions available on the Internet. Those who program in Java should have a look into http://java.sun.com/docs/codeconv/html/CodeConvTOC.doc.html - Code Conventions for the Java Programming Language by Sun.
For C++ coding standards, I would recommend that you have a look into http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/webdev/AppB.Cpp_Coding_Standards.htm - C++ Coding Standards from BBC.
http://oopweb.com/CPP/Documents/CPPHOWTO/Volume/C++Programming-HOWTO-14.html - C++ Programming HOWTO has some C++ Coding Conventions and also a bunch of links that lead to several coding standards that you can pick from.
John Dirk
Programming Consultant
http://www.programminghelp4u.com/
Programming ( Assignment / Project ) Help
The intentions of this short tutorial are not to teach... Read More
Spyware is software or hardware installed on a computer without... Read More
The Microsoft system preparation utility for Windows 2000 is a... Read More
You might think you don't need a firewall... Read More
Microsoft SQL Server is the leader for inexpensive and middle... Read More
Spyware and Adware infest over 90 percent of computers in... Read More
Simply put, fleet maintenance allows companies to monitor and maintain... Read More
Document Management or Enterprise Information Management is perhaps one of... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains has substantial market share among... Read More
Microsoft CRM is CRM application, maintained and supported by Microsoft... Read More
IntroductionDuring the early years of our modern computer era, very... Read More
What is Software?Software is a set of instruction written to... Read More
Make-or-Break Factors in Success and ProfitabilityFor quick printers, estimating can... Read More
Combining Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains ERP with non-Microsoft Business... Read More
There are two approaches for application integration:? Programmer's approach ?... Read More
Microsoft CRM is relatively new player on the now becoming... Read More
The research in the field of Natural Language Processing usually... Read More
As Mozilla Firefox nears 10% market share, with well over... Read More
IBM Lotus Domino or Microsoft Exchange?The severe competition continues for... Read More
With the advent of 'Service Pack 2' for Windows XP... Read More
This article illustrates the best practices to improve the performance... Read More
I have always had a tendency to focus on the... Read More
Remember nice and prosperous Clinton era? When you implemented innovative... Read More
Collaboration SoftwareCollaboration Software, also known as group collaboration software or... Read More
The COSMIC FP (function point) software quality metric, is no... Read More
luxury cleaning services Des Plaines ..Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a strategy and processes used... Read More
Are you a database professional? Do you work with a... Read More
We would like to give you several situations, when you... Read More
I've been active in the Cisco Certification track for four... Read More
Looks like Microsoft Great Plains becomes more... Read More
Language development computer: Computer-based method for aiding language development seems... Read More
Accounts payable is just one area of office management where... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains, Navision, Solomon and Axapta are Microsoft Business... Read More
Since its release in 1987, QuarkXpress had made an immediate... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains is main Microsoft Business Solutions product, targeted... Read More
Manufacturing in the USA is far away down from mid... Read More
MSN messenger is a pretty cool invention. I mean I'm... Read More
If you have been running Windows XP for a couple... Read More
Our hosted solution allow you to run your own search... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Small Business Manager is Great Plains Dexterity... Read More
Remember old good days when your company probably had Great... Read More
If you have Microsoft Great Plains and support it for... Read More
Programming Help for BeginnersWe write programs to instruct computers. When... Read More
We all already got used to computer monitoring both at... Read More
Table of Contents1) Introduction 2) Related Work 3) Framework 4)... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, former Great Plains Software Dynamics... Read More
Stealing company information used to be the specialty of spies... Read More
GroupwareThe internet is full of 1.5 million to 7 million... Read More
We've all seen the ads on TV for Netzero 3G.... Read More
Best Software Act! is very popular CRM for small and... Read More
Software |