Procedural programming is a concise method of software development that focuses on achieving specific results through a series of necessary steps. It is often taught to beginners and can be used for large and complex applications, such as the Linux kernel and Apache server. Languages include C, Fortran, and Python.
Procedural programming is a term used to refer to how a computer programmer writes a program. This method of software development, also called application, revolves around keeping your code as concise as possible. It also focuses on a very specific end result to be achieved. Imperative programming is another term used to refer to this type of development. When a program is required to complete certain steps to obtain specific results, the code is said to have been written according to procedural programming.
Software developers who program according to this concept usually write a preliminary plan in plain language before actually writing the code. Procedural programming is often taught to beginning computer science students because of the logic behind it. They are encouraged to think in terms of a series of necessary steps to take to achieve a goal.
For example, the professor might encourage the class to write down a series of actions needed to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Pretending not to know how to make a sandwich, each student tries to follow the instructions step by step. They learn that if something is left out, they won’t end up with the final product they wanted, so they learn the importance of precise instructions. This realization is to help the student when she starts writing the actual code.
Procedural programming is not always the preferred method for coding applications. Very complex software can require literally thousands of lines of code, making it a little more difficult for a team of people to work with. Some programmers find that extremely large applications can become difficult for a developer to maintain.
Some people mistakenly believe that it is impossible to write very large or complex software in a procedural programming language. Some programs might be written more easily using object-oriented programming (OOP), but that doesn’t mean they can’t be developed procedurally. The Linux kernel, which is the heart of an open source operating system, is written using procedural programming. Other major applications such as the Apache server, Drupal content management system, and Samba are all written this way. These applications are large and are considered complex by the vast majority of programmers.
Existing procedural programming languages include C, Fortran, and Python. Many important applications and utilities have been coded in these languages. For example, Anaconda, the installer for Fedora Linux, is written in Python, as are various software management tools.
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