Mr. Arkin told us about how valuable it was to know multiple languages. Being bilingual, trilingual, etc. is very helpful in many different aspects of life, especially getting a job. By the time we finished discussing this, half an hour had already passed. (Yeah...being worried about how much time we would have to actually work on our Repetition Assignments, I kept glancing at the clock. I would've looked at my watch, except it broke. Two months ago. *cry*)
So, after we closed the "forum" on languages, Mr. Arkin provided us with three points that will help one become a better programmer.
- Read with precision.
- Break a solution into an ordered set of steps.
- Visualize contents of memory.
I do break a solution into an ordered set of steps when I program. I write half of the documentation section (programmer, date, file name, purpose), then before I do anything else, I think about what I will do. When I have a basic outline of the steps needed to reach the solution, I start writing the program. Like Mr. Arkin previously suggested, I start with the input/processing section. Every time I finish typing out a major action, I make the necessary changes or additions to the declaration and/or initialization sections.
I don't visualize contents of memory unless I am desk checking my code. However, after I do a test run (of my program), I look back at what I inputted and mentally check to see if the processing is done correctly.
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Then, Mr. Arkin gave a brief demonstration of three ways Repetition Assignment 8 could've been done (for a certain part of the code).
Method 1
if integer > 0 and integer mod 2 = 0 then
Method 2
if integer > 0 then
if integer mod 2 = 0 then
...
end if
end if
Method 3 (using a boolean expression)
positive := integer > 0
even := integer mod 2 = 0
if positive and even then
The last one is cool, but it requires more variables. If I was writing the program, I would most likely use Method 1 because it is the simplest and most straightforward (in my opinion) out of the three.
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When we got to go to our computers, we had fifteen minutes left. I barely did anything, because I needed to check over some other stuff.
All our programming assignments are due on Monday. I finished everything, but I'm not sure if I have all the codes printed out. Derr. I need to make a checklist (though I'd probably lose it anyways).
On another note, tomorrow is the Girls for Girls sleepover. I won't be home until Saturday afternoon (I'm going straight to the library, then dance class after I leave the school.) I'll do my best to write my blog entry tomorrow afternoon, but if it's not up, you know why. I promise to write it the minute I get to the library on Saturday, though. *smile* I'll make a mad dash for one of the computers!
I think this is the longest blog entry I've written so far, ne? I'll stop talking (typing?) now.
Ja ne, minna-sama!
