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<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Program lifecycle phase</span></span>
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</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">This article is about a technical topic. For project management, see <a href="Software_development_process" title="Software development process">software development process</a>.</div>
<p><b>Program lifecycle phases</b> are the stages a <a href="Computer_program" title="Computer program">computer program</a> undergoes, from initial creation to deployment and <a href="Execution_(computing)" title="Execution (computing)">execution</a>. The phases are edit time, <a href="Compiler" title="Compiler">compile</a> time, <a href="Linker_(computing)" title="Linker (computing)">link</a> time, distribution time, <a href="Installation_(computer_programs)" title="Installation (computer programs)">installation</a> time, <a href="Loader_(computing)" title="Loader (computing)">load</a> time, and <a href="Runtime_(program_lifecycle_phase)" class="mw-redirect" title="Runtime (program lifecycle phase)">run time</a>.
</p><p>Lifecycle phases do not necessarily happen in a linear order, and they can be intertwined in various ways. For example, when modifying a program, <a href="Software_developer" class="mw-redirect" title="Software developer">software developers</a> may need to repeatedly edit, compile, install, and execute it on their own computers to ensure sufficient quality before it can be distributed to <a href="User_(computing)" title="User (computing)">users</a>; copies of the modified program are then downloaded, installed, and executed by users on their computers.
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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Phases">Phases</h2></div>
<p><b>Edit time</b> is when the <a href="Source_code" title="Source code">source code</a> of the program is being edited. This spans initial creation to any <a href="Software_bug" title="Software bug">bug</a> fix, <a href="Code_refactoring" title="Code refactoring">refactoring</a>, or addition of new <a href="Software_feature" title="Software feature">features</a>. Editing is typically performed by a person, but automated <a href="Programming_tool" title="Programming tool">design tools</a> and <a href="Metaprogramming" title="Metaprogramming">metaprogramming</a> systems may also be used.
</p><p><b><a href="Compile_time" title="Compile time">Compile time</a></b> is when source code is translated into <a href="Machine_code" title="Machine code">machine code</a> by a <a href="Compiler" title="Compiler">compiler</a>. Part of this involves language checking, such as ensuring proper use of the <a href="Type_system" title="Type system">type system</a>. The result of a successful compilation is an <a href="Executable" title="Executable">executable</a>.
</p><p><b><a href="Link_time" title="Link time">Link time</a></b> connects all of the necessary machine code components of a program, including externals. It is very common for programs to use functions implemented by external <a href="Library_(computing)" title="Library (computing)">libraries</a>, all of which must be properly linked together. There are two types of linking. <a href="Static_linking" class="mw-redirect" title="Static linking">Static linking</a> is when the connection is made by the compiler, which is always prior to execution. <a href="Dynamic_linking" class="mw-redirect" title="Dynamic linking">Dynamic linking</a>, however, is performed by the <a href="Operating_system" title="Operating system">operating system</a> (OS) just before, or even during, execution.
</p><p><b>Distribution time</b> is the process of transferring a copy of a program to a user. The distribution format is typically an executable, but may also be source code, especially for a program written in an <a href="Interpreted_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Interpreted language">interpreted language</a>. The means of distribution can be physical media such as a <a href="USB_flash_drive" title="USB flash drive">USB flash drive</a> or a remote download via the <a href="Internet" title="Internet">Internet</a>.
</p><p><b><a href="Installation_(computer_programs)" title="Installation (computer programs)">Installation time</a></b> gets the distributed program ready for execution on the user's computer, which often includes storing the executable for future loading by the OS.
</p><p><b><a href="Load_time" class="mw-redirect" title="Load time">Load time</a></b> is when the OS takes the program's executable from storage, such as a <a href="Hard_disk_drive" title="Hard disk drive">hard drive</a>, and places it into active <a href="Computer_memory" title="Computer memory">memory</a>, in order to begin execution.
</p><p><b><a href="Run_time_(program_lifecycle_phase)" class="mw-redirect" title="Run time (program lifecycle phase)">Run time</a></b> is the execution phase, when the <a href="Central_processing_unit" title="Central processing unit">central processing unit</a> executes the program's machine code instructions. Programs may run indefinitely. If execution terminates it will either be normal, expected behavior or an abnormality such as a <a href="Crash_(computing)" title="Crash (computing)">crash</a>.
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This article is issued from <a class="external text" title="Last edited on 2024-10-10" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/?title=Program_lifecycle_phase&oldid=1250470550">Wikipedia</a>. The text is available under <a class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en">Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0</a> unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.
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