Interactive programming allows changes to be made to a program while it is running, unlike traditional batch processing. It also allows for user input in interactive applications and blurs the lines between development stages, allowing for greater flexibility.
Interactive programming, also known as live coding, refers to any computer programming language that allows the creator to make changes to the program while it is already running. In traditional programming, the encoder first writes the program and then saves it. Then run the program on your computer. If an error occurs, go back to the drawing board to type in the new code and run the program again. With interactive programming, the designer can make changes to the code without having to run the program again.
Another use of interactive programming is to allow user input in what is called an interactive application. This can be as simple as asking the user for her name and then displaying it on the screen. The program has an interactive element by changing the value of the user’s name based on what they type. When the program was created, it didn’t know its name and the value was empty. Once I learned his name, he entered that value into the program while it was still running and then displayed it on the screen.
This type of interactive programming contrasts with another programming process known as batch processing. In batch processing, the program can run without ever needing user input. This has the advantage of working on its own without needing user help, but has a major disadvantage. All the information necessary for the program to run must be hardcoded into it from the start. If the program wanted to display the user’s name, it would have to know it already, since it couldn’t ask for user input.
In creating a program, it goes through development cycles. These cycles begin by identifying what the program should do, writing the code for it, and testing the program. The designer then goes back and makes changes to the program and tests it again. This process repeats until a successful program is created.
When interactive programming is used, the distinct lines between stages in the development cycle become blurred. Writing the program and running the program become the same thing. Instead of writing the program and then running it, the developer can write the program, run it, and continue writing or modifying it while it’s running. This allows for greater flexibility in programs and allows the programmer or user to make changes without restarting the program.
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