Programming paradigms common mistakes

Common mistakes

• Confusing a programming language with a programming paradigm

  Stating that a paradigm is simply a language, or claiming that a language name alone explains the difference between procedural and object-oriented programming.

  Fix itDescribe how the program is organised: procedures or functions in the procedural paradigm, and objects containing data and related operations in the object-oriented paradigm.

• Confusing a hierarchy chart with program code

  Describing a hierarchy chart as a list of programming statements or as a diagram showing the order in which every statement executes.

  Fix itExplain that a hierarchy chart shows the structure of modules and the relationships between higher-level and lower-level tasks; it does not provide the detailed code or necessarily show exact execution order.

• Confusing composition and aggregation notation

  Using a white diamond for composition or a black diamond for aggregation.

  Fix itRemember that composition uses a black diamond line, while aggregation uses a white diamond line.