Problem Description Language
One of the most useful techniques in a programmer's armoury helps us describe, at a more granular or detailed level than a diagram, the actual steps we need to carry out to complete a task. There are several techniques that work at this more detailed level, for instance, the decision table, the flow-chart, and the one we're now going to look at in more depth, structured english, aka pseudo-code, aka program (or problem) description language or PDL.
Follow each of the sections below in sequence:
- 1. Structured English
- This section will take you through 3 pages of work to help you understand how to write simple solutions using Structured English, it'll give you a syntax to use, and examples to work on. Start here.
- 2. Problem Solving
- OK, having mastered how you write Structured English, this section is much more important, it suggests some strategies that you might use to arrive at, and test your candidate solutions.
- 3. Problem Solving using Programming for the bewildered
- Taking your coffee making, and your problem solving, to the next level.