The Whiteboard

user20683

12:08 AM

@GlenH7 I figured out the other day that fizzbuzz is fairly easy to pull off in circuitry

user20683

also I suspect you could pull it off with gears and mechanical dials if you were an ME or thereabouts

6:52 AM

Since Programmers SE deals primarily with software development I was wondering if it would be ok to ask questions that deal with how I should model a certain problem I have or if I should look to another SE where such a queries would be more appropriate. My problem, specifically, is still in the conceptual modeling stage (hence me wanting to get other people's input on it).

Thomas Owens

1:06 PM

@BaronSchnitz Can you be more specific about the kind of question that you want to ask?

BaronSchnitz

Sure, the issue is I am working with a large number of task objects and am planning an algorithm to set up predecessor relationships between tasks depending the concrete property of the task object field: "Priority" and the more discrete property: when can this task finish considering its predecessors duration as well as its own.

depending on the*

So I am looking for insight on how I should model this in order to be able to create a manageable model, algorithm, and finally implementation.

Thomas Owens

Since your asking in the context of an algorithm that you want to design, it should be on-topic. I'd make sure that it meets the other criteria of a good question, though. For example, just asking for insight or discussion is likely to lead to closure for being too broad primarily opinion based.

You should show your work (prior research, existing algorithms, any kind of models or pseudocode or flowcharts or whatever that you have) and get into specific details and requirements or constraints that you have. But it seems like it would be OK if you did both of those things.

BaronSchnitz

Okay, I was planning on asking for advice on modeling this problem. I'm not exactly sure, based on the good question criteria. Whether that in of itself would be considered too broad as it is a semi-invovled question and does not deal with a single facet rather the whole.

Asking directly: "What advice could you give me in order to develop this model". Or a question of similar scope.

Thomas Owens

Asking for generic advice is probably too broad.

You probably want to narrow it down to a more specific problem that you are having. What is preventing you from modeling this problem?

BaronSchnitz

The main issue is balancing the discrete (non-concrete) property of cumulative duration with the concrete property: priority

Thomas Owens

1:19 PM

So I'd focus on that particular aspect of the problem. I think if you describe what you're trying to achieve and perhaps show how you've started, it should be specific enough.

BaronSchnitz

Alright, I'll focus on putting together a succinct description and work on formatting the question to be very legible.

Thomas Owens

Don't be afraid of details.

I wouldn't write a book, but you want to give enough details so that people aren't suggesting things that you've already considered or done.

BaronSchnitz

Okay, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the advice!

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