Developing a Program for Creative Expression

Think of some of the things that entertain and enrich your daily life. How many are driven by software? Ninety-eight percent of all microprocessors control devices such as automobiles, airplanes, televisions, copiers, razors, cell phones, and others that are not desktop computers.

A computer allows you to take an idea and using different programming tools create a program or product. This may involve thinking outside of the box and working outside your comfort zone. You need to be willing to experiment and learn from your mistakes.

As you begin your code, you may encounter errors in your program. You need to learn to find the errors so you can fix them.

There are basically three types of errors when writing computer programs:

Syntax errors
Runtime errors
Logic errors

Syntax errors

A syntax error represents errors associated with the programming language. Remember the syntax of a program is the format, which covers the spelling, grammar and punctuation of the language components and the rules controlling how they are combined. If the syntax of a program is wrong, it will not compile.

Common examples are:

Misspelled variable and function names
Missing semicolons at the end of statements
Improperly matches parentheses, square brackets, and curly braces
Incorrect format in control structures
Incorrect number of arguments passed through the parameter of a function

Runtime errors

Runtime errors occur when a program with no syntax errors asks the computer to do something that the computer is unable to do. The program will compile because it doesn't have any syntax errors, but it produces an error when it runs.

Common examples are:

Trying to divide by a variable that contains a value of zero
Trying to open a file that doesn't exist

Logic errors

Logic errors occur when there is a design flaw in your program. This type of error is caused usually by human error. The program will compile and run, but you do not get the expected or correct output. The Semantics of a program refers to the meaning of the statements. What does this statement do? Using the wrong semantics will produce a logical error because you used the wrong statements or you used them in the wrong order.

Common examples are:

Displaying the wrong output
Using the wrong information in the parameter of the function
Opening and using data from the wrong file
Using the wrong mathematical operation
The incorrect value passed through a parameter

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