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This same is also known by another name when it's used to teach new programmers: pseudo code. Sadly, because it's associated with learners/juniors, pseudo code
by machine_ghost 2y ago
This same is also known by another name when it's used to teach new programmers: pseudo code.
Sadly, because it's associated with learners/juniors, pseudo code gets a bad rap. But really, all engineering is translating English into code ... which means almost any complex operation (setting up a new employee's account, or anything else) can be made clearer by utilizing such an "in-between English and code" step.
In the article they used Python, but for all the important stuff, they didn't: they used English. A "do-nothing" script is really just a script where instead of converting pseudo code to code (like programmers normally do), you just leave the English/pseudo code in, and wrap it with a print.
- hnlmorg 2y agoI get the point you’re making but I cannot say I agree with it. Pseudo code is non-compilable text that’s intended to illustrate a computer function. Whereas this is compilable code used to illustrate a human function. So in a sense, they’re solving the exact opposite problems.
- aqueueaqueue 2y agoNever heard pseudocode getting a bad rap. It is good for archutecture discussions, decision documents, comments and so on. But I don't often hear it referenced by name. I also think geohot(?) said something like "Python is popular as it feels like you are writing psuedocode". And I agree!
- jspash 2y agoIt goes by many names. I believe the original name was checklist. It used to be written on paper by the ancient ones and followed step by step until the task was complete. I can't wait for the npm package. /s