Question for Pro?

abnfire

im not a pro, but my question is for proffessional programers. when you guys create a complex and proffessionla program do you ever create flow chart for it? i ask this because i want to be like you guys and want to learn everything which is important. Please tell me if you do or don't do.

ednark

you may want to google for UML, there are bunches of tutorials on how to use the symbols to do flowcharts for all sorts of things

dnszero

You might also want to google Information Architecture. IA is the subject that deals with how to plan, design, and arrange projects (terrbily oversimplified description). A good website to check out is http://www.jjg.net/ia/ There are alot of good resources and links there, as well some info and dl's regarding UML.

mcgruff

I always create a diagram showing how all the php files & functions link together.

Freehand is good for this: you can turn different layers on and off to look at different aspects of the plan.

It helps to think in terms of levels: a data access level, a data processing level and a data ouput level. You don't want to get bogged down in that but it can make your program easier to work with if you have separate functions for different tasks rather than putting too much into one big function or class.

Evaluating different methods of doing the same thing is a good habit to get into so you can create optimal code.

If you look in the manual for microtime() you'll find a way to time your php scripts allowing you to assess different methods.

The mysql control centre (mysql.com) lets you time databse queries, helping you to work out the most efficient.

Speed isn't the only issue: objects like result resources and classes - or even too many VARs you don't need - all consume memory which you want to minimise as much as possible. Sometimes you have to choose between speed and memory use.

leetcrew

i am doing those stuffs on scratch papers if it is only my personal programs. If you are working on your school's or company's project then, you must have a proper documentation...

khayll

hi,

basically, planning is useful because you think over the whole project, because when you write code, you are concentrating more on the wery lines you write, and do not see relations, connections or influence with other parts of the code.

Especially OO coding requires a good planning, which is done in UML nowdays.

you asked about "flow charts". These are used in structured programming, i.e. (among other methods) to describe what a single function does, it is not for planning a complex system.

Usually I do an object communications diagram + phpdoc combination for real documentation, and do some scratches the way I like for planning object diagrams, etc.

If You have the time to plan, go ahead, you can learn a lot, just be sure to search for good examples.

bye,
khayll