Answers

F6.6 The IDE

Robust programs · GCSE · OCR J277 2.5.2, AQA 8525 3.4.4, Edexcel 1CP2 6.1.5 · about 12 min

What this lesson is about

Editors, error diagnostics, the run-time environment and the translator, in the cell you use.

• The editor
• Error diagnostics
• Running and debugging
• The translator
• The rest of the toolbox

Questions 4 marks in all

1. [1 mark]Which are IDE tools listed by OCR?

   Tick every answer that is true.

   1. AEditors
   2. BError diagnostics
   3. CRun-time environment
   4. DTranslators
   Answer: A, B, C, D. All four are OCR's headings for IDE features.

2. [1 mark]How does syntax highlighting help a programmer?

   1. AA missing quote or keyword stands out because the colours change
   2. BIt runs the program faster
   3. CIt fixes errors automatically
   4. DIt translates the code
   Answer: A. Colours show the parts of the code, so mistakes in structure are easy to see.

3. [1 mark]What does stepping through a program in a debugger do?

   1. ARuns it one line at a time so values can be watched
   2. BDeletes lines with errors
   3. CCompiles it to machine code
   4. DSaves a copy
   Answer: A. Stepping shows exactly what each line does to the variables.

4. [1 mark]Which IDE feature reports the line and type of an error?

   1. AError diagnostics
   2. BCode completion
   3. CFolding
   4. DLine numbers only
   Answer: A. Error diagnostics find errors and explain them, often before the program runs.

The task: use the diagnostics

# the two lines every program starts with: the commands, then the robot
from bugbot import *
connect()

flashes = 0
for i in range(3)
    led("blue")
    tone(660, 0.1)
    wait(0.2)
    led("off")
    flashes = 1
print("flashed", flashs, "times")

from bugbot import *
connect()
flashes = 0
for i in range(3):
    led("blue")
    tone(660, 0.1)
    wait(0.2)
    led("off")
    flashes = flashes + 1
print("flashed", flashes, "times")