The Importance of Modular Programming

One of the major concerns in software development while using traditional procedural techniques is when it refers to big projects where complications are around the large software project to be built.

In such projects that include thousands of lines of code, it becomes more complex to have a clear understanding of what any segment of code does. To overthrow the problem of a mix-up and the repetition of identical code in different stages of the project, the modularity was designed. It aims at having codes designed in segments in such a way to implement a specific function that can be assigned from any part of the program.

Related functions are put in one module. As the modules are independent, the overall software becomes a collection of functional units or it may also be sub-programs that make the complete program.

What is Modular programming?

As we may already understand, modular programming refers to the simple designs, the process of subdividing any complete software program into separate sub-programs. In such a scope, the module is a separate software component that can often be utilized in a variety of functions along with other components of the system.

Identical functions are gathered in the unit of programming code. Yet, separate functions are developed as separate units of code and as a result, the code can be reused by other applications.

To a large extent, OOP (Object-oriented programming) is in harmony with the modular programming concept. Modular design in programming empowers several programmers to distribute the work and independently debug pieces of the program.

The Advantages of Modularization in Programming

As we already learned, sometimes, large projects include many programmers working on thousands of lines of code. In such an environment, it becomes easier to lose track of what certain code does or to introduce code that should be rewritten in anywhere else. To avoid similar poor-planning scenarios, modularization comes to help in programming. This intends to breaking up and organizing code taking into consideration the task it executes. In such a way, the code becomes reusable, easier to debug and manage. Let’s check out the most significant advantages of modularization in programming.

#1 Easier to Debug

While debugging large programs, it may be mysterious how and when a bug occurs. This mystery may take much time from programmers as they search through all the lines of code in order to find out where the error occurred and what problems it causes in the program.

However, in case the program is created with modularity in mind, each task has its own individual section of code. As a result, if a problem arises in a particular function, the programmers realize where to look and how to manage a smaller portion of code.

#2 Reusable Code

The modular codes provide programmers with easy code reusability. In case certain tasks are classified into specific functions or classes, the programmers can reuse that specific code whenever they need to perform that task again. If any code is not organized into distinct parts, then it is more difficult, sometimes even impossible, to reference, divide or complete that code in another programming context.

Continue reading the original article: Modular Programming