Modularisations

• Modular programming is also known as top-down design and stepwise refinement.
• Top-down design (functional decomposition) is the process of identifying first the major task, then further subtasks within them.
• Structured programming is a methodical approach to the design of a program that emphasises breaking large and complex tasks into smaller subtasks.
• Modularity refers to the concept of making multiple modules first, then linking and combining them to form a complete system.
• Modularity enables re-usability, which minimises duplication, and makes it easier to spot errors.
• Modular design is a method of organising a large computer program into modules which can be developed simultaneously by different programmers.
• Advantages of modular programming:

  • Individual modules can be separately tested
  • Modules can be kept in a module library and reused in other programs
• Advantages of modular programming:

  • Long programs split into modules are easier to read, debug and maintain
  • Multiple programmers can work on separate modules in the same project, thus shortening total development time
• Benefits of top-down design:

  • Allows the programmer to concentrate on the overall design of the algorithm without concerning themselves with the details of lower-level modules
  • Separate modules, once identified and written, are easily understood, can be reused, and be independently modified
• Hierarchy (structure diagram) use a top-down approach to explain how a program is put together.