To write a program, software developers usually follow these steps.
• First they try to understand the problem and define the purpose of the program.
• They design a flowchart, a diagram which shows the successive logical steps of the program.
• Next they write the instructions in a high-level language (Pascal, C, etc.). This is called coding. The program is then compiled.
• When the program is written, they test it: they run the program to see if it works and use special tools to detect bugs, or errors. Any errors are corrected until it runs smoothly. This is called debugging, or bug fixing.
• Finally, software companies write a detailed description of how the program works, called program documentation. They also have a maintenance program. They get reports from users about any errors found in the program. After it has been improved, it is published as an updated version.