OCR AS/A2 Computer Science Types of Code

Object Oriented Programs

• ADVANTAGES
• Easier to provide working code with a visual result
• Classes can be treated as black-boxes using encapsulation. This is to prevent users from changing them if the outcome must be preserved
• Many design patterns are available and can easily be modified by the programmer
• Code re-use is easy as many objects will have the same attributes and methods
• Code portability is simple
• DISADVANTAGES
• Steep learning curve as the code is not inherently simple
• Programs are usually complex and hard for a newcomer to understand
• Not as compact or space/time efficient as low level languages

Procedural Programs

• ADVANTAGES
• Excellent for general purpose programming, easy to learn
• Many books and references available on well tried and tested coding algorithms, very common
• Good level of control without having to know precise target CPU details, generally cross compatible
• Portable source code
• DISADVANTAGES
• Many procedural languages so people only specialise in one
• Needs to be very precise and knowledgeable about programming instructions
• Not as efficient as hand-crafted source code
• Poor at handling fuzzy conditions e.g. in AI