Continuum of a Program

If you look a program, you will see data and code -- logical. Have you ever thought about their interelationships?

The choice of data structure predestines some of the code. The choice of some code predestines some data structures. In fact, the two could be perceived as opposite ends of a continuum. When you design/implement a program, you choose what to do. Consider that choice a slider on a scale. It can be heavy data structure and lighter code or the other way around.

Programs can be optimized for speed or for data usage (usually these goals are diametrically opposed).

Here are 3 different implementations that produce the same result:

Nested If Statements

if (1 == i)
 { total = total + 17; }
elseif (2 == i)
 { total = total + 29; }
elseif (3 == i)
 { total = total + 99; }

Case Stratement

switch (i)
 { // switch
 Case 1: total = total + 17; break;
 Case 2: total = total + 29; break;
 Case 3: total = total + 99; break;
 } // switch
 

Array Implementation

 int ary[4] {0, 17, 29, 99};


 total = total + ary[i];