Programmer's Glossary

Source Code   plain text written by a programmer in a programming language which can be translated into machine language somehow.

Program   list of instructions in machine language

Compiler   a piece of software that reads source code and outputs (executable binaries) programs

Interpreter   a program that creates machine instructions on-the-fly while reading source code.
  For instance your web browser is an interpreter for HTML CSS and Javascript source code.

IDE (Integrated Development Environment)   A program with several types of tools for writing code. Common tools include:
  - code editor w/ syntax highlighting
  - file management for project source code and resource files
  - compile and build tools
  - debugging and run configuration tools

Syntax   structural rules of a programming language (e.g. 'punctuation')

Encapsulation   The grouping of data references (variables) and relevant sub-routines (functions / methods).

Class   An encapsulation containing variables and methods which defines a name-space. All classes may be used as a custom data type. Class names should be CaptialCamelCase.

Member   A class sub-component such as a variable or function. Member variables are called Fields, member functions are called methods. All members should be named in lowerCamelCase. Members are accessed with the '.' operator (member operator)

Object   A variable with data type given by a class. An object is an Instance of a class. Creating an object is called instantiation. Objects are referenced by pointer.

Constructor   A method used to initialize an object. Constructors have the same name as the Class and are called with key word 'new'. The constructor allocates memory and assigns a pointer.

Instance   (adjective) A member belonging to an object - e.g. instance variable or instance method. Every object has its own independent set of instance variables.

Static (adjective)   Members belonging to the class itself, but not unique for any instance. Non-static variables are instance variables. Non-static methods are instance methods.

Base Class   A class which is extended to define a Derived Class

Derived Class   A class which is based upon a Base Class for its definition Has all members of Base class including instance variables, instance methods and static methods Inherited methods can be Overridden by re-declaring them. The base-class method can be accessed with super.methodName()

Abstract Class   contains one or more abstract methods. Cannot be instantiated directly.

Abstract Method   method which mush be overriden by a derived class. It is called Implementing to Override an abstract method.