Program specification is the first step in developing a computer program.

1. Program specification is also called program definition or program analysis.
2. It requires the programmer to follow five specific tasks:
   1. Specifying program objectives
   2. Specifying desired output
   3. Determining required input
   4. Defining processing requirements
   5. Documentation specification

TASK 1 - SPECIFY OBJECTIVES,  What are program objectives?

1. Program objectives are the problems you are trying to solve.
2. A clear statement should be written about the problem that needs a solution.
3. This task defines the problem.

TASK 2 - SPECIFY OUTPUT,   How do you determine the desired output?

1. It is always best to specify outputs before inputs.
   1. You need to know what you want to get out of the computer.
   2. Then you can determine what will go into the computer.
2. Sketch or write how output will look when it is done.
3. Example:
   
   
   
   
   

TASK 3 - INPUT DATA -  How do you determine the required input?

1. The source and type of data must be known.
2. The input must supply the program with data to produce the correct output.
3. Example:
   
   
   

TASK 4 -  PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS -   How do you determine processing requirements?

1. Processing that must take place to convert input data into output information must correspond with the problem definition determined in task 1.
2. A step-by-step logical algorithm must be determined to process the input data to output information.

TASKS 5- PROGRAM SPECIFICATIONS DOCUMENT -  What is included?

1. Document the program objectives, desired outputs, needed inputs, and required processing.
2. After these items are documented, then step 2, program design can commence.

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