Software development turns requirements into a system that can be implemented, checked and maintained. Debugging investigates and corrects the cause of a fault. Both depend on understanding the intended behaviour, not only making an error message disappear.
Define what the software must do
Translate the brief into clear inputs, outputs and constraints. Separate essential behaviour from optional features. If a requirement is ambiguous, record the interpretation and seek clarification where possible. A program that runs successfully can still fail the assignment if it solves a different problem from the one specified.
Design before adding complexity
Break the task into components and explain how data move between them. Use pseudocode, diagrams or a small prototype where they help. Choose a structure you can understand and justify. Avoid introducing a framework or pattern solely because it appears sophisticated; additional complexity needs a practical reason.
Reproduce a fault before changing code
Record the input, expected result and actual result. Reduce the problem to a small example when possible. Trace the relevant values and control flow rather than altering several unrelated parts at once. A change that hides an exception without understanding its cause may leave the incorrect behaviour in place.
Test more than the normal path
Check boundary values, empty inputs and relevant error conditions. Use test cases derived from requirements rather than repeating the implementation’s assumptions. After a fix, verify that the original fault is resolved and that related behaviour still works. Explain any limitations of the test environment or dataset.
Document the development reasoning
Describe important decisions, problems and evidence of correction. Follow the course’s collaboration and tool-use rules. Keep sources and borrowed code traceable. A final report should show how the solution meets requirements and what remains incomplete, instead of treating a successful run on one example as proof of a finished system.
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