Flowchart Programming

A flowchart can help visualize the steps in a system including inputs, outputs, and loops. Before you write code, you can use a flowchart to create a diagram of the steps in your algorithm and evaluate any potential issues with your logic.

To make a flowchart in SmartDraw, you start by picking one of the flowchart templates included and add steps in just a few clicks. SmartDraw aligns everything automatically so you don't have to worry about formatting, rearranging, or reconnecting steps.

To add text to a shape, just select it and type. The same is true with lines. Select any line extending from a shape and type "yes" or "no" or "true" or "false" depending on how you're trying to describe your code.

To add a connecting line for a loop, go to the line menu and select a segmented line and connect the shapes you want to link.

Every programmer's first flowchart is usually some version of "Hello World." Here's how you'd visualize that as a flowchart.

Now let's look at something more complicated, let's make a program that will check if a number is even or odd. The input in the system will be the number, then the program will check to see if it's divisible by 2 without any remainder. If it can be divided by 2, the output will be a determination that the number is even, otherwise it is odd.

The beauty of a flowchart is that it doesn't care what language you write your code in. You can be writing Javascript or C++. A flowchart will make you focus on the abstract logic of what you're trying to accomplish without worrying about expressions and functions.