Modular Programming 

Modular programming is the strategy applied to the development and design of soft­ware systems. Modular programming breaks the program requirement down into separate, smaller program requirements, or modules, each of which can be separately speci­fied, written and tested. The overall problem is thus made easier to understand and this is a very important factor in reducing the scope for error and for easing the task of checking. The separate modules can be written and tested in a shorter time, thus reducing the chances of changes of programmer in mid-stream.

Each module specification must state how the module is to interface with other parts of the program. Thus, all the inputs and outputs must be specified. Structured programming might involve more preparatory work in determining the program structure, and in writing module specifications and test requirements. However, like good groundwork in any development programme, this effort is likely to be more than repaid later by the reduced overall time spent on program writing and debug­ging, and it will also result in a program which is easier to understand and to change. The capability of a program to be modified fairly easily can be compared to the maintainability of hardware, and it is often a very important feature. Program changes are necessary when logical corrections have to be made, or when the requirements change, and there are not many software development projects in which these conditions do not arise. The optimum size of a module depends upon the function of the module and is not solely determined by the number of program elements. The size will usually be determined to some extent by where convenient interfaces can be introduced. As a rule of thumb, modules should not normally exceed 100 separate statements or lines of code in a high level language, and less in assembler code.

Questionnaire:

• Explain about the Modular programming?