Analyzing Complex Code: Addressing Programs through their “Functional” Parts

Software engineers aim to write organized, readable code. Complex code should be organized into small, manageable pieces. Functions help us accomplish code organization by allowing us to break down the code into smaller tasks where each function focuses on a single area of concern. Similarly, when using a calculator, a student does not always need to be able to completely understand the complex math operation they enter in order to enter the result of a math operation into a step of their question. Alternately, a student must understand which buttons to press and how to integrate the result into their math question. Abstracting complex operations into functions allows a programmer to understand the flow of a program by considering the purpose of the function according to their name and analyzing its inputs and outputs when a complex operation seems difficult to understand. Code becomes modular, in that a function can be used in multiple programs, or in multiple places in a program. When we encapsulate the logic of a task, even when the operational steps prove difficult to understand, a software engineer learns to navigate complex code by analyzing its parts. A complex function serves a specific purpose, it will accept inputs, and deliver a result. By understanding that data flows, a software engineer strengthens his skills and learns to address problems through analyzing areas of concern. Programs begin to fit together like pieces in a puzzle, and a software engineer learns that a program ultimately is just a collection of its parts.