rakenneohjelmia

Rakenneohjelmia, known in English as structural programming, is a programming paradigm that aims to improve the clarity, quality, and development time of a computer program by making extensive use of subroutines, block structures, and for and while loops, in contrast to using simple tests on variable flags that flow to various parts of the code. The main thrust of structural programming is that it is possible and desirable to eliminate or reduce the use of the goto statement, which allows for arbitrary branching within a program. This is achieved by employing a set of control flow constructs that are more disciplined and easier to understand.

The core principle of structural programming is to reduce the complexity of program logic by organizing code into logical blocks and using well-defined control structures. These structures typically include sequence (statements executed one after another), selection (if-then-else statements), and iteration (loops like for and while). By limiting the flow of control to these structured constructs, programs become more predictable and less prone to errors. The elimination of goto statements is a key feature, as they can lead to "spaghetti code," making it difficult to trace the execution path.

This paradigm emphasizes modularity and abstraction. Functions or procedures are used to encapsulate specific tasks, making the code reusable and easier to debug. This hierarchical decomposition of a problem into smaller, manageable units is a hallmark of structural programming. The benefits include enhanced readability, maintainability, and testability of software. Structural programming laid the groundwork for subsequent programming paradigms like object-oriented programming.