Pseudocode is a readable way of writing algorithms that doesn’t need to be processed by machines. It’s used to explain algorithms in publications and design stages, and to plan programs before coding. Skeleton programming is similar but can compile. Pseudocode can also be used to explain mathematical algorithms.
Pseudocode is a method of writing an algorithm or code concept in a way that is easy for people to read and understand. While it may structurally resemble a programming language, pseudocode is not actually meant to be read or processed by a machine. Within the general structural conventions of a programming language, it can include explanations using natural language, mathematical formulas, and other notations. It is often used in various publications to illustrate the function of an algorithm or in the design stages of a computer program before any actual code is written.
A common use of pseudocode is in textbooks and scientific publications. By omitting many of the things that differentiate one programming language from another, it can allow for a high-level understanding of an algorithm by many different people, no matter what programming languages they know. An algorithm is a set of steps or instructions designed to provide a particular result, and one commonly forms the backbone of computer programming. This can make the ability to understand algorithms, across different programming languages, very useful.
The other main use of pseudocode is to get the general functions of a new program before writing any real code. This can allow a programmer to view things in a top-down fashion, conceptualizing the whole system before getting bogged down in the actual coding. Another form this process can take is the use of a graphical structure, such as a flowchart.
Skeleton programming is similar to pseudocode, although it differs in that it can actually compile without errors. Pseudocode follows the structural conventions of programming languages, while omitting many of the things that code requires to be successfully parsed. The point of skeleton programming is simply to get a high-level program up and running quickly, using dummy code for many functions that will be compiled later. This makes it similar in function to planning tools, with one resulting in an actual, working schedule and the other being more like a broken model.
Another use of pseudocode is in explaining some mathematical algorithms. By combining the mathematical notations of set and matrix theory with a generic programming framework and natural language, it may become possible to easily explain a variety of mathematical algorithms. While it may require some mathematical training for it to work, people with that training will generally be able to understand such algorithms regardless of their other background.
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