Editing Skeleton (computer programming) (section)

== Relation to pseudocode ==
[[File:PXL 20201120 092248538.jpg|thumb|A generic example of pseudocode]]
[[Pseudocode]] is most commonly found when [[Plan|developing]] the structure of a new piece of [[software]]. It is a plain English portrayal of a particular function within a larger system, or can even be a representation of a whole program. Pseudocode is similar to skeleton programming, however deviates in the fact that pseudocode is primarily an informal method of programming.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Bellamy|first=Rachel K. E.|date=1994-06-01|title=What Does Pseudo-Code Do? A Psychological Analysis of the use of Pseudo-Code by Experienced Programmers|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/s15327051hci0902_3|journal=Human–Computer Interaction|volume=9|issue=2|pages=225–246|doi=10.1207/s15327051hci0902_3|issn=0737-0024|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Dummy code is also very similar to this, where code is used simply as a placeholder, or to signify the intended existence of a method in a class or interface.

[[Programmer|Computer programmers]] are extremely dependent on pseudocode, so much so that it has a measurable impact on their [[Psyche (psychology)|psyche]].<ref name=":0" /> A typical programmer is so conditioned with the idea of writing simplified code in some manner, be it by writing pseudocode or skeleton code, or even just by drawing a diagram, that this has a measurable impact on how well they can write their final implementation. This has been found over a number of applications, with different programmers working in different languages and varied [[programming paradigm]]s.

This method of program design is also most often done on pen and paper, further moving the text from what is actually to be implemented. Skeleton programming mimics this, but differs in the way that it is commonly written in an [[integrated development environment]], or [[text editor]]s. This assists the further development of the program after the initial [[design]] stage. Skeleton programs also allow for simplistic functions to operate, if run.