Click the link, download and read this PDF file explaining
Pseudocode
Actions
.
Create an MS Word file named LNamePseudocode.docx where LName represent your last name.
Create pseudocode to tell the computer how to calculate the problem and show the result.
Type your answer in the MS Word file using the outline or numbered list feature. Use subroutines like in the example to show the input, processing and output (IPO) pieces of the pseudocode. Use the tab key to indent under each subroutine in your list. Do not forget to resave your file after you have completed your outline.
Submit this file by the due date and time listed on your course Detailed Schedule.
9.1.3.1: Pseudocode
Overview
Pseudocode is an informal high-level description of the operating principle of a computer program or other algorithm.[1]
Discussion
Pseudocode is one method of designing or planning a program. Pseudo means false, thus pseudocode means false code. A better
translation would be the word fake or imitation. Pseudocode is fake (not the real thing). It looks like (imitates) real code but it is
NOT real code. It uses English statements to describe what a program is to accomplish. It is fake because no compiler exists that
will translate the pseudocode to any machine language. Pseudocode is used for documenting the program or module design (also
known as the algorithm).
The following outline of a simple program illustrates pseudocode. We want to be able to enter the ages of two people and have the
computer calculate their average age and display the answer.
Outline using Pseudocode
Input
display a message asking the user to enter the first age
get the first age from the keyboard
display a message asking the user to enter the second age
get the second age from the keyboard
Processing
calculate the answer by adding the two ages together and dividing by two
Output
display the answer on the screen
pause so the user can see the answer
After developing the program design, we use the pseudocode to write code in a language (like C++, Java, Python, etc.) where you
must follow the rules of the language (syntax) in order to code the logic or algorithm presented in the pseudocode. Pseudocode
usually does not include other items produced during programming design such as identifier lists for variables or test data.
There are other methods for planning and documenting the logic for a program. One method is HIPO. It stands for Hierarchy plus
Input Process Output and was developed by IBM in the 1960s. It involved using a hierarchy (or structure) chart to show the
relationship of the sub-routines (or functions) in a program. Each sub-routine had an IPO piece. Since the above problem/task was
simple, we did not need to use multiple sub-routines, thus we did not produce a hierarchy chart. We did incorporate the IPO part of
the concept for the pseudocode outline.
Key Terms
pseudo
Means false and includes the concepts of fake or imitation.
References
cnx.org: Programming Fundamentals – A Modular Structured Approach using C++
1. Wikipedia: Pseudocode ↵
9.1.3.1: Pseudocode is shared under a CC BY-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.
9.1.3.1.1
https://eng.libretexts.org/@go/page/75282