Pseudocode

Github logo Edit on GitHub

Pseudo code is an informal way of programming description that does not require any strict programming language syntax. It is an outline of a program written in a form that can be easily converted into real programming statements.

A pseudocode to add two numbers and display the results:
    
    READ num1,num2
    Result=num1+num2
    PRINT result.

Basic Guidelines for Writing Pseudocode

  • Statements should be written in English and programming language independent.
  • Steps must be understandable and it should not be difficult
  • Each instruction should be written in a separate line
  • Keywords must be capitalized
  • Each set of instruction must be written from top to bottom
  • It should be easy for translating the design into code in any programming language.

Advantages

  • Pseudocode is language independent, it can be used by most of the programmers
  • It becomes easy to develop a program.
  • It is compact and easy to modify.

Disadvantages

  • It does not provide visual representation of the program logic.
  • No standard rules for writing pseudocode.
  • It is not used to understand the flow of the program control.

Youtube

Pseudocode

Previous
Function Examples
Next
Pseudocode examples

References

  • Allen B. Downey, “Think Python: How to Think Like a Computer Scientist‘‘, 2nd edition, Updated for Python 3, Shroff/O‘Reilly Publishers, 2016 (http://greenteapress.com/wp/thinkpython/)
  • Guido van Rossum and Fred L. Drake Jr, ―An Introduction to Python – Revised and updated for Python 3.2, Network Theory Ltd., 2011.
  • John V Guttag, ―Introduction to Computation and Programming Using Python‘‘, Revised and expanded Edition, MIT Press , 2013
  • Robert Sedgewick, Kevin Wayne, Robert Dondero, ―Introduction to Programming in Python: An Inter-disciplinary Approach, Pearson India Education Services Pvt. Ltd., 2016.
  • Timothy A. Budd, ―Exploring Python‖, Mc-Graw Hill Education (India) Private Ltd.,, 2015. 4. Kenneth A. Lambert, ―Fundamentals of Python: First Programs‖, CENGAGE Learning, 2012.
  • Charles Dierbach, ―Introduction to Computer Science using Python: A Computational Problem-Solving Focus, Wiley India Edition, 2013.
  • Paul Gries, Jennifer Campbell and Jason Montojo, ―Practical Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science using Python 3‖, Second edition, Pragmatic Programmers, LLC, 2013.