If you are eager to programming and standard software development techniques, you may have heard the term “modular programming”. When the size of a program is small. we can easily store all the details at once; But in real world applications are hundreds to thousands of times larger than the ones you’ve probably written. They are so large and complex that it is impossible to remember all the details of such programs. Also, keep in mind that many programmers write them simultaneously.
But does the complexity and breadth of your big plans scare you, and does it worry you that you might miss a part of it and fail to troubleshoot and maintain it? Fortunately, there is no need to worry anymore. Because the key solution used to manage the complexity of large software applications around the world by programming companies is a technique that modular programming. In this article, we will become more familiar with the modular programming, advantages and rules of this standard method.
What is Modular programming?
Modular programming is closely related to structuralist programming and object-oriented programming. The common goal of all these techniques is to facilitate the construction of a large software programs. And also help systems by breaking them down into smaller pieces. In Modular programming, the program code consists of different modules or units. This allows different developers to grasp the discrete components of the system and design and implement them without the need to understand the rest. The basic idea of modular programming is that after building independent and interchangeable modules. They can connect to each other to create a complete program. Not every developer needs to understand everything the other developers do on the team.
What is the existential nature of modular programming?
Modular programming is created because of the human aspect of program development. Computers do not need clear code to execute code. Rather, it is human cognitive limitations that force programmers to write code in smaller chunks.
Advantages of using modular programming techniques
As mentioned earlier. sometimes large projects involve many programmers writing thousands of lines code. With the help of modular programming, tracking specific code items, debugging, organizing and managing and preventing duplicate code writing in different parts of the program becomes easier by writing usable codes. Here are the most important benefits of modulating the program.
Easier debugging
When debugging large applications, it is difficult and mysterious to know when and how the bug occurs. Debugging such programs can take a long time because if the program is modular, programmers will have to check the code of all program lines to find the source of the bug. But if the program consists of several modules, if there is a particular problem in the performance of the program. Programmers will easily understand where to look for the bug. And this will happen in short time.
reusable
Modular code allows programmers to reuse the code. If specific actions are into specific functions or classes, programmers can perform that action again whenever necessary and use that particular code. If the code of large programs is not into specific parts, it will be more difficult or even impossible to refer to, separate or complete that code.
Code readability
Modular code is a highly organized code. But what does it mean to organize code by considering tasks? This means that programmers can organize any piece of code based on what they do. As a result, they can easily find or point to the code they want based on their organization’s outline. But that’s not all, other programmers working on code also follow the organization’s plan. This programming method optimizes your code for usability among multiple developers and reduces its difficulty level.
Reliability
All the advantages mentioned so far, when put together, create another advantage called reliability. Readable code, which is easy to debug, maintain, and share, will have fewer errors in the future. Reliability is essential for large projects that hundreds of developers are working on. All developers should be able to easily communicate and work with code written by other developers. In fact, it can be said that code modulation and reliability are a necessity when developing complex and large software.
maintainability
As we said, modular programming strategy divides the software development process into more controllable parts. Sometimes it is difficult to focus on individual parts of the program when building large software; But if it is divided into smaller individual tasks, the process of developing and maintaining it will not be so complicated and costly, and correcting errors and adding new features to the software will be an easy process. In fact, thanks to modular programming, programmers do not get confused when maintaining software.
Software quality and testing
Another benefit of modular programming is to improve the quality of the program components. Developers in this situation do not need to worry about the overall program and only focus on the quality of their components. In the end, when the code of all the parts is combined, the probability of error will be less. Modularity of a software also reduces the time required to test it, and by testing new modules, there is no need to test previous modules.
Group programming
Modular programming enables group programming and faster development of the development process by dividing the work between multiple programmers who work in parallel. In this method, the project manager assigns specific tasks to each programmer and finally connects the various components together to create a complete program.
Characteristics of modular software – well-built module
Many programmers prefer to use the modular programming technique because of the benefits we talked about earlier. Some features of modular software are:
Prior to coding, the program is planned and designed by the project manager or system analyst.
- The code is in several files.
- The codes are not long.
- The codes are easy to understand and simple.
- The code in each section can be in other applications as well.
- Controlling variables is very simple.
- The names of variables and modules are related.
- The developer can create a single method and use it in different parts of the program, without the need for re-coding.