Flowcharts

# Flowcharts
            ## Diagraming a Process

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## Terminology
            <dl>
              <dt>Algorithm</dt>
              <dd>A repeatable, step-by-step definition of a process, system or task.</dd>
              <dt>Flowchart</dt>
              <dd>A schematic representation of an algorithm or process.</dd>
            </dl>

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## Example Flowchart
            ![Start-Stop symbol](../../assets/images/flowchart/flowchart-example.png)
            ---

## Start/End
            ![Start-Stop symbol](../../assets/images/flowchart/start-stop.png)
            - Shape is a rounded rectangle;
            - Start is required and should always be the same;
            - Start always should be the first block;
            - Flowchart may have no End or multiple Ends.
            
            ---

## Process
            ![Start-Stop symbol](../../assets/images/flowchart/process.png)
            - Shape is a rectangle;
            - Involves a single action or verb in the flowchart.
            
            ---

## Input/Output
            ![Start-Stop symbol](../../assets/images/flowchart/input-output.png)
            - Shape is a parallelogram;
            - Indicates a manual operation is needed.            
            
            ---

## Decision
            ![Start-Stop symbol](../../assets/images/flowchart/decision.png)
            - Shape is a rhombus or diamond;
            - Outcome is a Yes or No;
            - In general: Yes should go left-right and No should go down.

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## Sub-process
            ![Start-Stop symbol](../../assets/images/flowchart/sub-process.png)
            - Indicate an independent process with its own Start and End;
            - In programs, this is often a separate function.

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## Arrow
            ![Start-Stop symbol](../../assets/images/flowchart/arrow.png)
            - Indicate the flow of the chart;
            - Are drawn from the output of one symbol to the input of another;
            - Only one arrow can represent an output;
            - Multiple arrows can represent inputs.

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## Questions to ask
            - What's the purpose of the flowchart?
                - Test an idea?
                - Communication with a team?
                - Project documentation?
                - Understanding of a large system?
            - Where do you start?
            - What is the final output of the process, system or task?
            - What's trivial enough to not be included in the flowchart?

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## Further Learning
            - Article: [Introduction to Flowcharts](https://www.mindtools.com/augmkip/flow-charts)
            - Video: [Introduction to Creating Flowcharts](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWRDqTx8d4k)
            - Tool: [LucidChart](https://www.lucidchart.com/pages/)