One of the most intimidating aspects of any modern programming language is the use of very abstract words and expressions, or ones that are directly in another language. Therefore, when it comes to communicating the logic or operation of a specific program, many use the concept of pseudocode, a high-level description, not so technical, and more "human" if you will. Now, the truth is that there is no universal standard for pseudocode, and each implementation depends on the supervision of the teacher in charge, so it would be very useful to have an interpretation platform that can detect errors in advance. That's when PSeInt appears.
Why Pseudocode?
Rust, Python, Java, JavaScript… just four of the most used and appreciated languages among programmers. Logically, each language has its strengths and natural weaknesses, but in all cases there is a barrier, a fundamental obstacle that becomes a real headache for those with zero programming experience. Let's look at something basic like the "Hello World" in Rust:
Why are there braces? Why parentheses? "Fn main"? "println!"? What does all that mean? It's simple: a programming language is not obliged to imitate or follow the structure of a normal human language, however, that "gap" or "level difference" between the two can complicate the learning process. Finding examples of high-level languages is not difficult (Fortran and Basic are the first that come to mind), but between them arises another inconvenience, which is the mastery of the English language among its main commands.
https://old.neoteo.com/mycompiler-16-lenguajes-de-programacion-sin-instalar-nada/So... pseudocode to the rescue. "Parallel language" and "fake language" are some of the options to describe it. The idea is that through pseudocode it is easier to explain (with blackboards, in books, and in class) and understand what an algorithm, a program, or another piece of code does. And the best part is that we can use almost anything as pseudocode. For example, nothing stops us from taking a "IF VALUE EQUALS -1 THEN DELETE" and turning it into "Si Valor IgualA -1 Entonces RevientoTodo", but pseudocode is not very useful either if it presents errors. Detecting them is one of the jobs that PSeInt can do.
What Is PSeInt?
Originally developed by Argentine teacher Pablo Novara, PSeInt responds to a need. Novara explains that when he was a student, his classmates had difficulties writing their first algorithms, and the use of an imaginary language that could not be implemented in a real environment led to an excessive dependence on the teacher to verify if the content was correct.
Key Features
PSeInt also includes a number of useful features:
- Autocompletion
- Syntax highlighting
- Lists of functions, operations, and variables
- Step-by-step execution
- Real-time changes
- Conversion of pseudocode to equivalent code in major programming languages
The utility and flexibility of PSeInt is so great that it has become one of the most popular programs in educational institutions in Spain and Latin America. The list of universities in its language base is impressive, and most likely you will find yours there, or on the contrary, you can create your own pseudocode profile.
To close? PSeInt is free and open source, under GNU GPL v2 license. The official page offers binaries for Windows, macOS packages, and other options for different flavors of Linux, but if you want to carry it in your pocket, you can already get an Android-compatible fork through the official store.
Official site and downloads: Click here
https://old.neoteo.com/musica-para-programadores/
