Some Lessons - Washington State University

Some Lessons

? Often many ways to solve a problem

¨C Don¡¯t rush to code first idea that pops into

your head. Think about the design and ask if

there¡¯s a better way to approach the problem

¨C Your first task is to find a correct algorithm.

After that, strive for clarity, simplicity,

efficiency, scalability, and elegance

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Some Lessons

? Be the computer

¨C Formulate an algorithm by thinking about how

you¡¯d solve the problem

¨C This straightforward approach is often simple,

clear, and efficient (enough)



Some Lessons

? Generality is good

¨C Consideration of a more general problem can

lead to a better solution for a special case

¨C If the max of n program is just as easy to

write as the max of three, write the more

general program because it¡¯s more likely to be

useful in other situations

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Some Lessons

? Don¡¯t reinvent the wheel

¨C If the problem you¡¯re trying to solve is one

that lots of other people have encountered,

find out if there¡¯s already a solution for it

¨C As you learn to program, designing programs

from scratch is a great experience

¨C Expert programmers know when to borrow

? Search through Python functions

? Search the Internet

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? Chapter

?7

?DONE

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? Suggested

?exercises

?on

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?website.

?

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¨C Do

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?weekend

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¨C If

?people

?have

?quesBons,

?we¡¯ll

?go

?over

?them

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?Tuesday

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