[EMAIL PROTECTED] asked: >> Do any of you use flowcharting software, and if so what do you use? I am just beginning to explore the world of programming and have so far used Microsoft (spit) Visio. I tried both Kivio and Dia but they fall short for me. My code choices are (due to the course I am attending) limited to JavaScript and pseudocode. <<
By all means experiment with flowcharts, but be prepared to move on: I haven't used flowcharts in nearly 30 years, and there are good reasons. First, they teach you nothing about good structure - it's too easy to draw spaghetti. Second, they're never maintained - code gets tweaked, but the (graphical) flowcharts don't - so they become misleading documentation. Lastly, if your code is so complex that it needs a flowchart to be comprehensible, you're doing something wrong - or, at least, there are better ways. My suggestion would be to "flowchart" in pseudocode (avoiding the infamous goto, of course - haven't used those in 30 years, either - there's always a better, cleaner way). If you have large, complex indents, consider decomposing further: turn the indented section into a function (with a simple, clean name and interface - think "generality"). Think in terms of vertical complexity rather than horizontal. Aim to make your code as readable as you can. Similarly, make the code self-documenting: if maintenance relies on separate documents, it'll become harder when the docs fall behind - as they invariably will. All IMHO, of course, but learned the hard way ;). And it is entirely possible that this is something you *have* to learn the hard way, hence my opening words. Steve [Oh - and while I'm at it: avoid global variables. They are evil. But that's maybe for later, in the "OO" chapter... ;)] http://www.sfdesign.co.uk http://www.fivetrees.com
