Software → Programming Languages
Source Code
Human-readable program text written in a programming language.
Motivation
Source code solves the problem of telling a computer what to do in a form humans can read, review, change, and version.
Where it fits
It belongs to programming and sits before compilation, interpretation, testing, and deployment.
Mental model
Source code is the editable blueprint. Tools turn it into running behavior through interpretation, compilation, or runtime execution.
Important details
Good source code is not only correct; it is readable, organized, testable, and connected to the surrounding build and runtime system.
Common mistakes
- Confusing source code with the running program.
- Treating formatting as more important than clarity of structure.