• 0

How do i write this pseudocode?


Question

Hi guys,

I'm currently working on writing a psuedocode which would show a list of total sales between any two dates.

Here is what I came up with thus far:

Use Variables: Date 1, Date 2 of Type Integer

Sales, Total Sales of Type Real

Begin

Display ?Enter Start Date?

Accept Date 1

Display ?Enter End Date?

Accept Date 2

For (Date 1>=Start Date, Date 2<=End Date, +1)

Accept Sales

Total Sales:= Total Sales + Sales

End For

Print Total Sales

End

Am I going about this in the right manner? Was the For loop the correct method to use? I would appreciate any advice or suggestions. :)

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/917096-how-do-i-write-this-pseudocode/
Share on other sites

9 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0

A good approach is to write your pseudo code as potential comments or instructions for writing code, not using code, but plain english to save duplication. You then comment out each line as write the appropriate line of code, self documenting if you will.

for each user in user collection
allow user access to repo
then save

would become...

&lt;?php
#for each user in user collection
foreach($usercollection as $user){
	#allow user access to repo
	$user-&gt;allow('repo', true);
	#then save
	$user-&gt;save();
}
?&gt;

  • 0
  On 05/07/2010 at 11:26, AnthonySterling said:

A good approach is to write your pseudo code as potential comments or instructions for writing code, not using code, but plain english to save duplication. You then comment out each line as write the appropriate line of code, self documenting if you will.

for each user in user collection
allow user access to repo
then save

would become...

&lt;?php
#for each user in user collection
foreach($usercollection as $user){
	#allow user access to repo
	$user-&gt;allow('repo', true);
	#then save
	$user-&gt;save();
}
?&gt;

Writing instructions this way could help you and others know what the potential code will do once it is written. A good advice.

Just try to keep them as simple as possible.

  • 0
  On 05/07/2010 at 11:26, AnthonySterling said:

A good approach is to write your pseudo code as potential comments or instructions for writing code, not using code, but plain english to save duplication. You then comment out each line as write the appropriate line of code, self documenting if you will.

for each user in user collectionallow user access to repothen save

would become...

&lt;?php#for each user in user collectionforeach($usercollection as $user){	#allow user access to repo	$user-&gt;allow('repo', true);	#then save	$user-&gt;save();}?&gt;

This is acceptable practice for when you are first beginning to program. Do not do this when you get beyond introductory stuff. You will end up annoying experienced developers far more than you will be helping them. Wading through twice as many lines of code because someone likes to include commenting gems like the following is annoying, and not nearly as helpful as the likely well intentioned author probably meant them to be.

Bad:

// increment integer i by 1
i = i + 1
// remove Item from a list using remove() method.
list.remove(Item)

Also not good (because it is self-explanatory by glancing at the logic):

&lt;?php
#for each user in user collection
foreach($usercollection as $user){
        #allow user access to repo
        $user-&gt;allow('repo', true);
        #then save
        $user-&gt;save();
}
?&gt;

Basically, you don't want to be wasting your time while coding and someone elses time while maintaining, by commenting very obvious things especially on a line-by-line basis. Documenting code is an art. Doing it by simply replacing line-by-line the pseudo-code/notes/whatever with actual code is a terrible practice to get into. A good comment should succinctly explain the purpose of the a chunk of logic, give a brief overview of what is occurring, document any pre-conditions or post-conditions, and in general be summary of what the code is doing without unnecessary verbosity.

However, there is a time and a place to comment line-by-line. If you have some truly obscure algorithm stuff going on then it is necessary. Similarly, if you have a complicated Regex rule then it is also extremely helpful. These are all edge cases though.

  • Like 2
  • 0
  On 04/07/2010 at 17:13, DaMiEn said:

Hi guys,

I'm currently working on writing a psuedocode which would show a list of total sales between any two dates.

Here is what I came up with thus far:

Use Variables: Date 1, Date 2 of Type Integer

Sales, Total Sales of Type Real

Begin

Display ?Enter Start Date?

Accept Date 1

Display ?Enter End Date?

Accept Date 2

For (Date 1>=Start Date, Date 2<=End Date, +1)

Accept Sales

Total Sales:= Total Sales + Sales

End For

Print Total Sales

End

Am I going about this in the right manner? Was the For loop the correct method to use? I would appreciate any advice or suggestions. :)

Why Date1 AND Date2 controlling the For loop ?

Usually it's just one variable, and it gets incremented until the second condition is no longer true..

i.e. Date 1 <= End Date, instead of Date 2 <= End Date

  • 0
  On 04/07/2010 at 17:13, DaMiEn said:

Hi guys,

I'm currently working on writing a psuedocode which would show a list of total sales between any two dates.

Here is what I came up with thus far:

Use Variables: Date 1, Date 2 of Type Integer

Sales, Total Sales of Type Real

Begin

Display ?Enter Start Date?

Accept Date 1

Display ?Enter End Date?

Accept Date 2

For (Date 1>=Start Date, Date 2<=End Date, +1)

Accept Sales

Total Sales:= Total Sales + Sales

End For

Print Total Sales

End

Am I going about this in the right manner? Was the For loop the correct method to use? I would appreciate any advice or suggestions. :)

This problem requires a set operation, and it wouldn't make sense to use a for loop. If anything, you'd use a while loop provided that all the records are sorted by "sales date".

The pseudo code would look something like this:

Begin

Display ?Enter Start Date?

Accept Date 1

Display ?Enter End Date?

Accept Date 2

Sort SalesRecords by Sales Date Ascending

Found := false

While Not EOF(SalesRecords)

If (Sales Date >= Date 1)

Found:= true

End If

Next SalesRecord

End While

If Found = false

Print 0

Return

End If

Total Sales := 0

While Sales Date <= Date 2 And Not EOF(SalesRecords)

Total Sales := Total Sales + Sales

Next SalesRecord

End While

Print Total Sales

End

BTW, this is the kind of use case that a technology like Microsoft's LINQ turns into a triviality:

var totalsales = dc.Sales.Where(x => x.SalesDate >= Date1 && x.SalesDate < Date2.AddDays(1)).Sum(x => x.SalesAmount);

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Yeah it is like Aero Glass reborn! (which I loved) but I do not have any Apple devices.
    • Amazon to invest $20 billion in Pennsylvania for AI infrastructure, creating 1,250 jobs by Paul Hill The governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, has announced that Amazon has agreed to invest at least $20 billion in AI infrastructure in the state. Shapiro noted that this is the largest-ever private sector investment in the state’s history and is set to create at least 1,250 high-paying, high-tech jobs, plus thousands of construction jobs to build the AWS data centers. The initial locations for the first two data centers are Salem Township in Luzerne County and Falls Township in Bucks County. The governor said that more sites were also under consideration, so this $20 billion figure could grow further. Aside from the obvious benefits for the locals, it also helps to keep America in a strong position in its AI race with China. Why Pennsylvania? The Shapiro administration's role “Pennsylvania is competing again – and I’m proud to announce that with Amazon’s commitment of at least $20 billion to build new state-of-the-art data center campuses across our Commonwealth, we have secured the largest private sector investment in the history of Pennsylvania,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “This initial investment from Amazon will create thousands of good-paying, stable jobs as Pennsylvania workers build, maintain, and operate the first two data center campuses in Luzerne County and Bucks County. Our team worked closely with local leaders and Amazon to land this deal, and we continue to be actively engaged on securing additional sites in Pennsylvania – helping them secure local support, developing the infrastructure needed to support more data centers, and ensuring our permitting processes move quickly and efficiently. With this historic announcement, we’re creating opportunity for our workers, generating new revenue for our local communities, and ensuring the future of AI runs right through Pennsylvania.” Based on what Shapiro said, the state has tried quite hard to get Amazon to build there instead of somewhere else. States really have to put in effort to convince big tech, as other areas are also clamoring for businesses to set up there too. Back in 2021, we reported that Samsung had agreed to build its Taylor, Texas factory after the state made a tax break offer with the Korean company. The impact on jobs, communities, and the AI landscape Initially, Amazon will need thousands of construction workers to build the data centers and when this is done, it will be hiring 1,250 operators, technicians, and engineers to help manage the facilities - these jobs promise to be high-paying jobs. These jobs are also expected to drive up tax revenues, which will be positive for the state, counties, and municipalities. David Zapolsky, Amazon’s chief global affairs and legal officer, also said that the investments would create workforce development programs and community initiatives for the benefit of residents. It’s unclear from the announcement what form these will take.
    • Feels like Apple is kind of bringing Aero to their apple stuff, honestly. I get that same vibe.
    • Yeah a lot of people do that, but there are also terrible people on secondhand market places that will claim things like the CPU isn't working, or there's a problem with the motherboard etc It's harder to confirm to a buyer that the item is fine when it is all sold separately. I was thinking of taking out the 4070 and riser kit and lowering to 1400. I think people who would buy this sort of system would pair a better GPU with it anyway (I had a 4080 SUPER in it).
  • Recent Achievements

    • Enthusiast
      the420kid went up a rank
      Enthusiast
    • Conversation Starter
      NeoToad777 earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
    • Week One Done
      VicByrd earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Reacting Well
      NeoToad777 earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • Reacting Well
      eric79XXL earned a badge
      Reacting Well
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      477
    2. 2
      +FloatingFatMan
      281
    3. 3
      ATLien_0
      253
    4. 4
      Edouard
      202
    5. 5
      snowy owl
      201
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!