Pseudocode

Pseudocode is a generic way of depicting algorithms without use of any specific programming language-related notations.

Computer science text books often use pseudocode in their examples so that all programmers can understand them, even if they do not all know the same programming languages.

Various styles of pseudocode are in use. Often pseudocode uses the syntax of one common language (like C or Lisp) for common operations like loops, and uses English language text whenever details are unimportant or distracting.

Our style of pseudocode uses keywords from C for the some common operations, and, like Python, uses indentation to distinguish the scope of things like loops.

Example operations

Assignment:

<variable> = <expression>

Conditionals:

if <condition>
  do stuff
else
  do other stuff

Simple loops:

while <condition>
  do stuff

for <variable> from <first value> to <last value> by <step>
  do stuff with variable

Function calls:

<function>(<arguments>)

Function declarations:

function <function name>(<arguments>)
  do stuff with arguments
  return something (optional)

Variable declarations:

declare <variable-name> as <type>

Array declarations:

declare <array-name>[<lower-bound> to <upper-bound>] of <type>

Composite data structures (also see Object Oriented Programming):

struct <name_of_new_type>
  <declaration(s) of internal variables>

Accessing fields of a composite structure:

<structure variable name>.<field name>

This standard still needs work.