Q&A for How to Write Pseudocode

Pseudocode isn't real code, but details what a program should do step by step. Knowing how to write code is necessary to writing meaningful and useful pseudocode.

Divide it by two to see if you get a remainder. If not, then it's even; if yes, then it's odd.

Since pseudocode isn't real code, there can't be any errors. You decide what you want to write as pseudocode and then translate it to any coding language you'd like.

When you start jotting it down it can be anything from a notepad to a napkin or a dedicated writing application like Word or Google Docs. Once you start detailing your pseudocode I recommend switching over to a plain text/raw text (.txt) application such as Notepad, TextEdit, WordPad, and then begin translating it to actual code gradually. It's very important to remember that a computer CANNOT execute code written in a formatted document file, such as .doc or .docx, pdf. They can only interpret .txt plain text, made into something like a .jar, .class, etc (developer file formats). You cannot run code with just raw text. Remember to make it a dev file first.

It isn't exactly necessary, but knowing pseudocode helps in learning how to program faster.

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You can do whatever you like in pseudocode! Just as long as you know how to convert it to actual code, anything goes.

Verbal works in this context: as in "relating to or in the form of words." In your head, as you read the article, try replacing "verbal" with "written out in words."

Of course. You decide what you write in pseudocode. It won't come up with any errors and as long as you know how to code it into a programming language you should be fine.

Because switch statements are essentially nested if-else statements, you can use if statements. For example, you could use if for each case and else for the default.

Different. An algorithm is a set of steps to perform a given function; pseudocode is just one way of describing those steps. The steps can be expressed in a conventional programming language or in pseudocode. The former will actually run; the latter will not until translated into computer code. Unless, that is, someone writes a compiler to handle your pseudocode. That's not as silly as it may sound; languages like Apple's HyperTalk closely resemble pseudocode.

A function in real code is like "when FUNCTION_NAME is runned, do:". You can use "when FUNCTION_NAME is runned, do:" for a function Pseudocode start.

Variables that can be used throughout the entire program. A local variable can only be used in the part that created the local variable.

fahrenheit = input "Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit: " write {fahrenheit} degrees Fahrenheit equals {(fahrenheit-32)/1.8} degrees Celsius.

You would do that as follows: Access camera. Write "point camera to grocery list" if camera registered type = "text": list = camera read top-to-bottom list sort alphabetically write list

That would be written as: integer1 = integer(input(Integer 1: )) integer2 = integer(input(Integer 2: )) sum = integer1 + integer 2 product = integer1 * integer2 average = (integer1 + integer2)/2 write { Sum = [sum] Product = [product] Average = [average] }