README.md

🧮 Calculator

This a calculator capable of performing basic math operations. It runs through console, asking user for inputs, then performing the chosen operation and printing it on screen.

🎯 Why did I do this?

After realizing I've mostly solved programming logic problems and followed tutorials, I missed having a program that that did not answer a given question or follow a given solution. So I thought for a while "What am I capable of doing now?" ,"What can I do to test myself?","Which program would have room for improvements?" , and then the present idea was born: "A calculator!".

So, why a calculator? As you may imagine, it fits quite well the previous questions. "Calculator" is something with a very large variety of possiblities. It can be your everyday shop assistant, it could be a tool for doing you taxes, or it could be the helping hand for your calculus and geometry problems. "Calculator" could be anything between somenething that adds 1 to 1 to a tool that helps you to figure out enthropy -- And that is truly Amazing!

I'm actually quite happy about this! it can be anything my skills allow me to achive: I wonder what it'll have become a year from now. Now, let's proceed to the fabrication process!

🛠 How I have done this calculator?

Briefing about what I did and you're about to read:

1. Bullet points about a general calculator;
2. Diagram about generic calculator
3. Diagram clarifying how my calculator would be done;
4. Pseudocode
5. Coding in Java

📃 The List

I started taking notes,to figure out what to do: "How to a calculator?", "What a calculator does?". From these questions I made up list:

1. Receives number inputs;
2. Receives an input that defines an operation;
3. Does the operation;
4. Displays operation's result.

🔷 🔴 The Diagram

Then I proceded to make a basic diagram, as I want to practice documentation and design,to make my own ideias more clear and to be able to present them better:

📝 (Pseudo)Coding time

Then I wrote a pseudocode representing the program:

Program"Caculator"

Var
    float: numberX, numberY, result
    char: operator

Start    

    print("Insert the first number: )
     scan(numberX)
    print("Choose a valid operation ( + , - , * , / ) : ")
     scan(operator)
    print("Insert the second number: )
     scan(numberY)

    if ( operator == '+' ) {
        result = numberX + numberY
    } else if ( operator == '-' ) {
               result = numberX - numberY
        } else if ( operator == '*' ) {
                    result = numberX * numberY
            } else if ( operator == '/' ) {
                       result = numberX / numberY                
                } else {
                    print("You must insert a valid operation ( + , - , * , / )")
                    }

    print( numberX, operator, numberY, " = ", result)

End 

💻 (Java)Coding time

At least, I coded the algorithm using Eclipse. This process may look long and reduntant, but it was actually sketched on papper, so the time spent was thinking-related and not tool-related. That being said, when I started coding in Java I had a very clear direction in mind, barely faced errors, the ones I faced were typing related not design related, and I'm sure this will make a great difference as I enage in more complex projects and as this very project complexity incresases.

Not only that, I found out it is actually satisfying to be able to design using diagrams. I tried in the past some times, but I failed to make something understandable and useful: this was the first time I actually felt that I was in fact constructing a solution and making it easy to follow using diagrams. I believe practicing this will be very helpful when colaborating (and also some time from now, when I come back to my own code, I feel that sensation of "Jesus, what does this means? How does it even runs!?" will be greatly diminished).

If you read all the way up-down to here, I'm truly grateful. Thanks for your time, I hope you have a wonderful day!