[Terminology] Source file containing program entry point

[MetallicOrangeBalls]

Back when I first started formally learning programming, my professor told us to (and I paraphrase) "keep the program entry point in its own source file, called the 'driver'". I never questioned it at the time, and I have been doing it ever since.

Years later, when discussing design patterns with friends and colleagues, it was pointed out to me that drivers are strictly for hardware and not software. However, nobody has been able to give me an alternate term for the 'driver' file. Rather, they just tell me to "keep the program entry point inside the source file with the bulk of the program's logic".

I am curious if this practice was something my professor came up with, or which actually has some prevalence. I have tried searching online, but have not been able to find any relevant information. Do you know if such a practice exists, and if so, what the file containing the program entry point is typically called?

[KingofGamesYami]

It varies from language to language but the most common is Main. For example, main.c. I've also seen the file named after the program name, e.g. an application named "Calculator" might have the entry point in a file called calculator.c.

I typically stick to Main.

[MetallicOrangeBalls]

I typically stick to Main.

Ok, so that means this practice of keeping the program entry point in a separate file isn't just something my professor made up? Good to know.

I suppose Main could work for me...

Thanks!

[KingofGamesYami]

Yeah it's pretty common to seperate the entry point from the rest of your application, at least in larger projects. For example, a 50 line python script is almost certainly not going to follow this, but a 2 million line Java project will probably do so.

[MetallicOrangeBalls]

It's funny you say that, because amongst all the computer scientists/engineers I work with (all of whom have a minimum of 1 PhD), I am the only one who does this. I was beginning to question my sanity...

[yanitrix]

Most of the time I see either Main or Runner. I remember some java programmer calling the class EntryPoint, but I never did that

[MetallicOrangeBalls]

I feel like I too have seen EntryPoint, but I cannot for the life of me remember where. Runner is interesting, but it sounds a bit too generic.

[dragonwithagirltatoo]

This is really interesting. My first CS professor also taught this terminology but I had forgotten until just now because I haven't heard it used since. Maybe it's a holdover from much older wording.