01
What is it?
Source code is human-readable instructions written by developers that define how software behaves.
MODULE 08 · DEVELOPMENT & GIT
Source Code
Human-readable instructions written by developers that define how software behaves.
02
Think of it like...
Think of source code as a recipe for software.
The recipe describes the steps, decisions, and rules that a computer follows to produce a result.
03
What does it do?
Define behavior
Describe what the software should do.
Process input
Receive and work with information.
Apply rules
Make decisions and carry out logic.
Produce output
Return a result, action, or response.
04
Where is it used?
Web applications
Build pages, interactions, and browser behavior.
Backend services
Handle requests, rules, data, and integrations.
Mobile and desktop apps
Power features users run on their devices.
Scripts and tools
Automate tasks and support development work.
05
Example
A small function can express one rule in source code:
function calculateTotal(price, quantity) {
return price * quantity;
}The source code defines how the total is calculated when the function is used.
06
How it connects
Developer
Source Code
Build
Running Software
07
Do Not Confuse
Source code ≠ machine code
Source code is written for people to read; machine code is the lower-level form a computer executes.
Source code ≠ repository
Source code is the instructions; a repository stores source code and its history.
Source code ≠ documentation
Source code defines behavior; documentation explains how to understand or use it.
08
Topic Glossary
| ENGLISH TERM | 中文 | SIMPLE ENGLISH | 中文小白理解 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source Code | 源代码 | Human-readable instructions written by developers. | 开发者写给人看的软件指令。 |
| Program | 程序 | A set of instructions that performs a task. | 用来完成某项任务的一组指令。 |
| Function | 函数 | A reusable block of code that performs a task. | 可以重复使用、完成某项任务的一段代码。 |
| Variable | 变量 | A named place used to hold a value. | 用名字保存某个值的地方。 |
| Build | 构建 | The process of turning source code into a runnable form. | 把源代码处理成可以运行形式的过程。 |
| Repository | 代码仓库 | A place that stores source code and its history. | 保存源代码及其修改历史的地方。 |
| Version Control | 版本控制 | A way to record and manage changes to source code. | 记录和管理源代码变化的方法。 |
09
What to Remember
Source code is the human-readable set of instructions that defines software behavior.
Developers write and review it; build tools turn it into a form that can run.