Answer to Question #50429 in Visual Basic for Bob

Question

List the main stages in developing a Visual Basic Application. Briefly describe each stage.

Answer 1

The common approach to start developing anycomputer program is to define the main features of the application, find out
the appropriate architecture and create some plan how it will be developing.
Therefore developing of Visual Basic application will be described in the same
style.
1) Defining the main features of the application
On this stage developershould define the future interface type of the Visual Basic – CUI, GUI or WEB
(Console, Graphical, Web application), evaluate the demand of using external
components or technologies such as databases, communication protocols,
additional hardware to communicate with etc.
2) Defining the applicationarchitecture
Onthis stage developer should choose what architecture pattern will be used,
define main modules and components, that will be the base of the application, approximately
define future class hierarchy and the main moments of its implementation.
3) Creating a plan of applicationdeveloping
Perfectlyit should be some document that contains stages of implementation, time
required for its implementation, when and what feature will be implemented.
4) Direct program creation (codding)
Regardingto the previously created plan, developer writes code and implements
step-by-step all required modules.
5) Testing and refactoring
Allwritten code should be tested and refactored if it is needed. On this stage
developer writes unit tests, checks program logic and ensures that all
everything works well.
After theprogram is created a good practice is to give someone to test your application,
it gives an opportunity to find out if the program has some mistakes.
Example:
We aredeveloping Tic Tac Toe game on Visual Basic.
1) Interface – GUI (Winforms), noweb-services or databases, simple GUI application. Game allows to play Player
vs Player, Player vs Computer
2) Architecture pattern –MVC(Model-View-Controller),
Model – provides access to the file with game score and game saves.
View – describes GUI interface (buttons, icons etc.)
Controller- handles button click events from the View, implements main program logic

Simplifiedclass hierarchy:
Playerclass
Computerclass
Boardclass
…

Thenext stages are described in the plan in the first section of the document.