Introduction to Python - Lesson 5 - Extras

1. Flowchart Diagram

• Flowchart diagram is a visual representation of the flow of data in a program
• It is used to visualize the flow of data in a program
• Software Developers use flowchart to map the flow of data in a program and the way certain actions should be performed.

• Usually, flowchart can be modified over the course of the development of the program, when some more functionalities are added, updated, or removed.
  

• We will use drawio.io to draw flowchart diagram

• Here are some instructions Version 1: How to create flowcharts in draw.io The different shapes used in flowcharts

• Start/End – circles are sometimes used to indicate start and end points.
• Steps – a rectangle or square (often with rounded corners).
• Decisions – usually represented by a diamond.
• A sub-process – a normal step shape with borders on the left and right edges.
• Manual input – where a step requires someone to enter something manually, you can use this step ‘rectangle’ with a sloped ‘roof’.
• Document or multiple documents – where a step results in one or more documents, you can use these shapes
• Data – a parallelogram is used to indicate where information enters or leaves the process. For example, when an invoice is sent to a customer.
• Delay – this is used to show there is a delay before the next step.

• Preparation – used to indicate there are setup conditions required for the next step.

• Instruction - Version 2: Draw a basic flow chart in draw.io

Here are many different shapes used to visualise processes in a flow chart.

• Rectangle - Basic steps in your process.
• Diamond (rhombus) - Decisions, usually yes/no questions, that split the process into two or more branches.
• Circle or oval - Optional start and stop points in your process.
• Parallelogram - Input or output, where your process needs or gives information to an external party or system.
• Cylinder - Disk drives, used to indicate that data is stored during that step in the process.
• Rectangle with a wavy bottom line - Documents that are produced as a result of a process step.

1.1. Example Flowchart Diagram

• Let us see a simple Python code:

a = 10
b = 20
if a > b:
    print("a is greater than b")
else:
    print("b is greater than a")

b is greater than a

• We can see this flowchart in the image below:

Link to the diagram

• Here’s an interesting link about using Draw.io and VS Code: Flow charts and process diagrams with Draw.io & VS Code