What is program Editing/Compiling/Error checking/Executing/Testing/Debugging?

1. Program Editing

Ø  For writing the C program source code, you need text editor called as C program editor.Text editor produces  .C(dot c) file as C source program file.

Ø Windows based c editors available along with softwares like Turbo C/C++, Code Blocks with Mingw, Dev C++ with Mingw/GCC.

Ø Xcode available on Mac and Code Blocks with Mingw available on Windows, Linux, and Mac,G-editor (gedit) also available on Linux.

2. Program Compiling

Ø C program source code needs to be compiled by C compiler ,which converts C source code into binary code and then it can be executed or run.

Ø  If source code contains errors (or warnings),it will be thrown during compilation process. If source code is error free then it will ready for execution or running.

3. Error Checking

Ø  When C program contains error, then as a part of error handler  the global variable errno  will be automatically  assigned  a code(or value) which will be useful in identifying the type of error that has been encountered.

Ø  Error may be syntax,logical or semantic error.

4. Executing Program

Ø  During build process of C program there involves four stages which utilizes different tools like a pre-processor, compiler,assembler,linker. At the end single executable file would be formed, which takes the output of pre-processor and source C code,and finally generates assembler source code.

5. Testing Program

Ø  C Program testing is a process of executing a Program with the intent of finding the software bugs or errors or other defects.

Ø  Program Testing done using Black box testing and white box testing methods.

Ø  Black Box Testing: Testing is done using set of input data and observing  output, whether  it is according to expected  output or not. In this testing only functionality of program tested considering program as black box without seeing its internal construct.

Ø  White Box Testing: Testing is done by considering or seeing internal program construct or structure, whether program is logically, syntactically and semantically correct or not? In this testing program is considered as whitebox and output  is checked for set of predefined input called  test data.

6. Debugging Program

Ø Debugging is the process of finding, locating and removing program bugs, errors or other program abnormalities.

Ø Program debugging is done by software programmer using specialized debugging tool called as debugger.

Ø Debugging process checks errors or bugs, detect errors and correct errors or bugs to allow proper program operation and functioning  as per its specification.