How To Write A Pseudo Code

Programming is one of the technical aspects of becoming a  good computer expert. Programming involves building programs. We can’t build programs without algorithms, which is the main thing that involves coding. All this coding is usually in machine language not known by men, so what if it is done in a way that is easily understood by all. Today, we will deal with pseudo-code which is a language understood by men. In this article, we will analyze how to write pseudocode and the advantages of writing it. Sit still and read on. Lets know about How To Write A Pseudo Code.

A plain English translation of the steps of an algorithm is known as pseudo-code. Pseudocode is usually written in a programming language way, but it is written for human understanding. It usually leaves out elements like variable declarations and language-specific code that are necessary for a machine to understand the method. Where possible, the programming language is supplemented with natural language description details or succinct mathematical notation. The goal of writing pseudo-code is to make it easier to understand than traditional programming language code, as well as to provide an efficient and environment-independent explanation of an algorithm’s main concepts.

NECESSARY ELEMENTS TO WRITE FOR A PSEUDO CODE

1. It has a variable- this means it has a name or a numerical value
2. It has an input and output format
3. It has an assignment which involves adding a particular value to a variable.
4. Selection- it involves choosing. It means you have the choice to start an action or not.
5. Repetition- this involves repeating an action in the pseudo code several times.

RULES TO WRITE A PSEUDO CODE

Pseudocode, as the name implies, is a fictitious code or representation of code that can be understood by anyone with a basic understanding of programming. These are some of the rules:

1.   START (or BEGIN) and STOP will be used to surround pseudo code (or END).
2. Pseudocode should be succinct, therefore leave out any extraneous information.
3. PRINT, DISPLAY, or WRITE are often used statements for displaying results or messages.
4. When creating pseudo-code, commonly used keywords are capitalized.
5. Arrange the tasks in the correct order and write the pseudo code to match.
6. Begin with a pseudocode statement that states the main purpose or objective.

HOW TO WRITE A PSEUDO CODE

As we know from earlier points, pseudocode is meant to make programming languages much easier. Now, these are some basic steps in writing a pseudo code;

1. Example: If “1,” publish “I am Case 1” as a response. If “2,” print “I am Case 2” as a response.
2. Make use of proper naming conventions. Humans have a natural desire to follow what they observe. 
3. Use upper case for constants and lower case for variables.
4. Describe everything that will happen in the code. Make sure the pseudo-code isn’t too abstract.
5. Use typical programming constructs like ‘if-then,’ ‘for,’ ‘while,’ and ‘cases’ in the same way that we do in programming.
6. Examine whether all sections of a pseudo-code are complete, finite, and easy to interpret.
7. It must be straightforward to comprehend even for a layperson or client, therefore avoiding using too many technical terms.

For proper understanding, read the following information: 

name, hourly rate, hours worked, and deduction rate.

Carry out computations

hourly Rate * hours Worked = gross

gross Pay * deduction Rate = deduction

net pay equals gross pay minus deductions

Name, gross, deduction, and net compensation should all be written down.

PSEUDOCODE:

READ NAME ON A HALF-HOURLY BASIS

Hours worked, rate, and deduction

Rate

hourly Rate * hours Worked = gross Pay

gross Pay * deduction Rate = deduction

net Pay equals gross Pay minus deductions.

WRITE name, gross pay, deduction, and net Pay on a piece of paper.

1. The initial keyword should be in uppercase.
2. READ and WRITE are capitalized in the example above. There are only a few of them.

We’ll utilize the following keywords:

READ, WRITE, IF, ELSE, ENDIF, WHILE, READ

3. To illustrate hierarchy, use an indent.
4. In each of the design structures, we’ll utilize a specific indentation pattern:

SEQUENCE: Keep all “stacked” statements in order, starting with the first one.

5. See how the IF/ELSE/ENDIF is built in the example above. The ENDIF (or END) condition is used to indicate the end of a condition.
6. Anything) is always following the IF (or whatever starts the structure).
7. Maintain the linguistic independence of the statements.

Resist the impulse to write in the language with which you are most familiar. You will save time in the long term! There might be some unique features in the statement and you must be the  SURE it will be in the language you plan to build the program in.

ADVANTAGES OF WRITING A PSEUDO CODE.

1. When a pseudocode is out, it serves as rough documentation, allowing one developer’s software to be easily understood. 
2. The attitude to documentation is critical in industries. That’s where a pseudo-code comes in handy.
3. It permits the designer to concentrate on the primary logic without getting distracted by the syntax of the programming language.
4. It enables designers to communicate logic in plain English.

IN CONCLUSION

Pseudocode is writing algorithms in a much simpler language for humans to understand and it is similar to a flowchart. It is also needed for documentation of some major codes in the programming industry. So, as a programmer or someone interested in developing programs, you don’t just have to learn algorithms, you need to learn how to write pseudocode. This article helps in analyzing the writing of a pseudo-code in a good way and the reasons for it. I hope it will be a source of help.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1

Are Pseudocode and flowchart similar?

Yes, they are

Question 2

Is it compulsory to write pseudocode?

Well, it depends on you. Pseudocode helps people to review what you have done so unless you don’t want it to be reviewed, you may not write it