Information Technology, Part 2

Question 1: Describe coding, and give an example.

Answer 1: In communications and information processing, coding is a rule for converting information into another form. Encoding is the process of converting information into symbols that can be communicated. Decoding is the opposite process, in which those symbols are converted back into a form that the receiver can understand. One of the most widely known and widely used communication codes is ACSII. Nearly all personal computers, terminals, and printers use it in some form. In its original form, its code represents 128 characters with seven-bit binary numbers (ones and zeroes). For example, in ACSII, the lowercase letter a is represented by the code 1100001.

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Question 2: Explain testing and debugging.

Answer 2: Computer programs have to be tested and debugged before they can be used by a general consumer. Testing is the process of executing a program with sample data to generate information for debugging. Debugging is the process of locating and reducing the number of defects in a computer program. Debugging is usually more difficult with systems that have many closely-grouped subsystems, because fixing bugs in one group may create bugs in another. Software programs known as debuggers are used to stop, restart, and slow down the execution of a program, so that bugs can be found and fixed.

Question 3: Describe the five basic steps of debugging software.

Answer 3: Software debugging consists of five basic steps. First, you must recognize that a bug exists. This is usually done proactively. Checks for error symptoms can be inserted that show when data becomes corrupted or is handled improperly. Second, you must isolate the source of the bug; that is, find the part of the system that is causing the problem. This can be difficult, however, because often the source of the problem and its symptoms are in two different areas. Third, you must recognize the cause of the bug. Again, this may involve other parts of the program. Fourth, you must decide on a solution for the bug. Knowledge of the system is essential, because fixing one bug might cause another. Finally, you must fix the bug and test the program. This determines if the fix worked and if there are any adverse effects.

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