What do you Gurus do?

[kfcSmitty]

When you're completely stumped? I am not having a problem with the programming aspect of my project, but I just cant seem to think of a logical flow for what I need to do...

Ive spent the past 2 weeks working on this thing, and ive made barely any progress on it.

Anyways, maybe you guys could post some tips for me?

IE) Do Flowcharts, write of pseudocode, just brainstorm, etc...

And people can feel free to spam in here as well, but can ya try to help a little?

[NoteMe]

Well, not sure who is a guru in here. I am not. But I can at least tell what I do on one man projects. Well I guess it depends on what kind of project it is. But I try to break it down as much as possible, and think of it as "modules". Then I try to write a chart (nothin I learned at school) just something that I understand. On how these modules with togheter. Then I break up things in classes, and add atributes to them.

Then there is most often one ground module. Like in a game it is the one that starts the game, and has the game loop in it (even if it might not be in the same file, I look it as a module, a kind of iteration for my project). Then I start applying it. If I get to some difficult algorithm, then I start with a blank piece of paper and start drawing and scribling on it (I tend to write them into a text file later on as a reference) because usualy they become VERY ugly and very many after a few days of coding.

And then I keep on doing this, untill I can write a ToDo list, and bug list towards the end. And wrapping it up like that.

[dee-u]

I'm not a guru either but somehow I just do the thinking right in my head, I never jot down anything or plan anything, I just think and code it.... But I guess a Flow Chart would help a lot and knowing what would be the inputs and outputs of your app and how it will process.

[mar_zim]

first things first: Refrain surfing porn sites it will not help you to generate good code.

[dee-u]

Second things second: And dont post in ChitChat.

[penagate]

If I'm stuck I don't make flowcharts or brainstorm cos that just makes it worse. I go away and do something completely different, like coding something else and then when you feel like it come back to the orgiainl provject and the ideas will start flowing agian Of course that doesnt work in all situations but it's a general guied

[wossname]

I grab a beer, paper and pen and turn off my PC.

Hit the garden for a bit of thinking and brainstorm like mad.

I like brainstorms because they literally look like class families. Your main app in the middle, then surrounding it are all the classes and those classes surrounded by their derivatives and properties.

Then you can start trimming bits off it and grouping bits together under other categories. This makes it easier to come up with a good program structure.

Generally, a brainstorm diagram is the only bit of non-coding work I do until the documentation stages later on.

A major program I am working on (a GPS downloading program) has so many classes in it I had no idea where to start. Now I have a base class that binds them all together and exposes the common features. This has cut the amount of code required by about 70%.

Sometimes you have to use complex OOP principles just to make a program much simpler than it would have been if you hadn't learned those principles. Paradoxically.

[Sgt-Peppa]

This is actually a good freeware tool that helps your Brainstorm session:

http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki....php/Main_Page

[NoteMe]

I had one that I integrated in Visual Studio. but I think it is still easier to scribble on a piece of paper for the first try. Then when I am more or less happy with it draw it on the computer. Takes to much time to scribble on a computer. At least if you don't have a tablett PC where you can draw on the screen...

[oceanebelle]

I actually sleep and dream about the solution and wake up the instant I figure it out!.

[wossname]

I once took some tablets that made me think I could draw on the screen.

[NoteMe]

Here it is.

http://vbforums.com/showthread.php?t...&highlight=uml

It doesn't only support UML, it also supports flowcharts and so on. And it can also generate code from your UML diagrams...

[wossname]

I fixed a bug in a program once while I was asleep. It just suddenly occured to me in a dream and it worked too. Neato.

[NoteMe]

I actually sleep and dream about the solution and wake up the instant I figure it out!.

I have done that a lot of times. And I still do. I once woke up 4am and posted the solution to something me and Marty had been thinking about a few days....

[NoteMe]

I fixed a bug in a program once while I was asleep. It just suddenly occured to me in a dream and it worked too. Neato.

I love things like that....I wish I could check out what is actually happening in my head when I sleep. I think I dream in Python these days..

[oceanebelle]

seriously... if it's something hard I do it on paper first... flowcharts.. diagrams.. pseudocode, the actual code.. etc. etc... if I still don't get it then I sleep it off.. and surprisingly I usually find solutions when I wake up... if that option is not available.. then I just find somebody to bug about it.. and they don't necessarily give inputs.. just someone to talk to... to straighten out my muddled brain and finally come up with a solution. LOL

[NoteMe]

Hehe..yeah, often it helps for me to just ask the question. Two times this week I have bugged someone with something I have been sitting with for hours. And they don't even understand my Q, and then I suddenly realize what to do......

[wossname]

And they don't even understand my Q

Because your spelling is diabollicle

[NoteMe]

Because your spelling is diabollicle

Well screw that......thats the only reason why I have so high post count, I have to explain the answer 1000 times each time so they understand it..

[wossname]

Not sure what you mean.

[NoteMe]

Well does this fist mean anything to you?

[wossname]

Yes, but I think its your turn darling.

[oceanebelle]

Rotfl

[NoteMe]

Yes, but I think its your turn darling.

have you forgotten how much I worked for you this weekend. There is NO way it is my turn now...

[wossname]

have you forgotten how much I worked for you this weekend. There is NO way it is my turn now...

Oh all right. But its my birthday next month remember.

[NoteMe]

Be sure. I have something extra worked up for you by then..

[kfcSmitty]

arghh NoteMe! I keep thinking you're me!

and thanks everyone for your tips..I just started jotting a bunch of crap down and i figured it out

[Wally Pipp]

need... beer... quickly

[oceanebelle]

*sleeping on the controls*