| A | B |
|---|
| alpha testing | Initial testing of a system; also called |
| applet | A small compiled program to run inside another application- typically a Web browser. |
| assembler | A program that translates each assembly-language instruction into a machine-language instruction. |
| assembly language | A language that is functionally equivalent to machine language but is easier for people to read, write, and understand. Programmers use alphabetic codes that correspond to the machine's numeric instructions. |
| beta testing | Testing of almost-finished software by potential end users. |
| C | A complex computer language invented at Bell Labs in the early 1970s as a tool for programming operating systems such as UNIX; now one of the most widely-used programming languages. |
| C++ | A variation of the C programming language that takes advantage of a modern programming methodology called object-oriented programming. |
| coding | Writing a program from an algorithm. |
| compiler | A translator program that translates an entire program from a high-level computer language before the program is run for the first time. |
| component software | Software designed in small, independent units (components) that can be plugged into applications and operating systems to add features as needed. computer architecture, |
| computer science | A relatively new discipline that focuses on the process of computing through several areas of specialization, including theory, algorithms, data structures, programming concepts and languages, computer architecture, management information systems, artificial intelligence, and software engineering. |
| control structures | Logical structures that control the order in which instructions are carried out. |
| data dictionary | A catalog, or directory, that describes all the data flowing through a system. |
| data flow diagram | A simple graphical depiction of the movement of data through a system. data structures, |
| decision table | A table that shows, in a row-column format, the decision rules that apply and what actions to take when certain conditions occur. |
| end user | A person who uses the information system directly or uses the information produced by the system. |
| end-user development | A systems development approach in which a project team comprising only end users develops many small-scale systems without the direct involvement of a professional systems analyst. |
| high-level language | A programming language that falls somewhere between natural human languages and precise machine languages, developed to streamline and simplify the programming process. |
| interpreter | A translation program that translates and transmits each source code statement individually into machine language. |
| logic errors | Errors in the logical structure of a program that cause differences between what the program is supposed to do and what it actually does. |
| macro languages | User-oriented languages that enable users to create programs (macros) that automate repetitive tasks; also known as scripting languages. |
| modules | In structured programming, a program is built from smaller programs called modules. |
| program verification | The process of proving the correctness of a program. |
| programming | A specialized form of problem solving, typically involving the four steps of defining the problem; devising, refining, and testing the algorithm; writing the program; and testing and debugging the problem. |
| prototype | A limited working system or subsystem that is created to give users and managers an idea of how the complete system will work. |
| prototyping | An iterative process in which the systems analyst can modify the prototype until it meets the needs of the organization. |
| pseudocode | A cross between a computer language and plain English, a form that programmers typically use to write algorithms before translating them into computer language. |
| query language | A special language for performing queries, more precise than the English language. |
| scripting languages | User-oriented languages that enable users to create programs (macros) that automate repetitive tasks; also known as macro languages. |
| stepwise refinement | Breaking programming problems into smaller problems, and breaking each smaller problem into a subproblem that can be subdivided in the same way. |
| syntax errors | Violations of a programming language's grammar rules. |
| system flowchart | A graphical depiction of the physical system that exists or proposed, such as to show the relationship among programs, files, input, and output in a system. |
| systems analyst | An information technology professional primarily responsible for developing and managing the system. |
| testing | The process of checking the logic of an algorithm and the performance of a program. |
| top-down design | A design process that starts at the top, with main ideas, and works down to the details. |
| visual programming | Programming featuring tools that enable programmers to create large portions of their programs by drawing pictures and pointing to onscreen objects, eliminating much of the coding of traditional programming. |
