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
Make-or-Break Factors in Success and ProfitabilityFor quick printers, estimating can... Read More
We all already got used to computer monitoring both at... Read More
Costs of fleet maintenance software can vary widely. It is... Read More
COMMAND LINE FUNCTIONA powerful command line script processor has been... Read More
Microsoft CRM is relatively new player on the now becoming... Read More
Today's business world is fast-paced. No matter what it is... Read More
Microsoft CRM is CRM application, maintained and supported by Microsoft... Read More
Microsoft CRM was designed to be easily customizable. Microsoft CRM... Read More
Internet worms. Is your PC infected?If your computer has become... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is marketed for mid-size companies... Read More
Music downloads are off the charts! We're listening to digital... Read More
While I was preparing some personal background information for a... Read More
If you copy something from a Web site or elsewhere...... Read More
Linux essentials:It's free for download but you have to pay... Read More
Microsoft Outlook is one of the most widely used software... Read More
Follow the steps below to quickly design, generate, and deploy... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions CRM is present several years on the... Read More
Microsoft-Outlook is a pretty amazing program. So much more than... Read More
Did you ever give a thought to the number of... Read More
Just stress testing one of the latest Linux distributions. Been... Read More
Does Microsoft care for WebmastersIt's always been a problem with... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions is emerging as very attractive vendor for... Read More
Our company, Novaprof Inc., developed unique software - DB Integration.... Read More
IBM Lotus Notes Domino and Microsoft CRM (Client Relation Management)... Read More
In linux, one of great commands for finding out information... Read More
professional home cleaners Glenview ..... Read More
For those who still don't know, Microsoft Publisher helps computer... Read More
OEComplete is a utility for managing the personal information of... Read More
So, you've bought a new Macintosh, and now you may... Read More
MSN messenger is a pretty cool invention. I mean I'm... Read More
Microsoft PowerPoint has dramatically changed the way in which academic... Read More
In order to meet regulatory and corporate compliance requirements reporting... Read More
Microsoft CRM was designed to be easily customizable. Microsoft CRM... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains was designed back in the... Read More
The various resume software offered, particularly on the internet, can... Read More
Enabling Chinese input is quick and easy, there are only... Read More
Microsoft released Service Pack 2 (SP2) for the Windows XP... Read More
As of now - Great Plains Dynamics/eEnterprise is transformed/renamed into... Read More
The most important benefit of XML is its simplicity. Though... Read More
What is Tripwire?Tripwire is a form intrusion detection system (IDS)... Read More
Do you remember that frustrating feeling when you find an... Read More
Siebel is traditional CRM market leader, however and mostly due... Read More
Several years ago Microsoft purchased Great Plains Software, then Navision... Read More
Although we don't know whether Microsoft ever envisioned such a... Read More
Every day millions of new web documents emerge on the... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions CRM proved to be reliable solution in... Read More
I like my software simple. If it's too complex or... Read More
What is a Web Database?A web database is a database... Read More
To all web designers out there, this article is for... Read More
Designing without tables by using CSS layouts is fast becoming... Read More
Software |