1195: Flowchart

2013-04-06T00:34:51Z

Csnchxkcd: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1195
| date = April 5, 2013
| title = Flowchart
| image = flowchart.png
| titletext = The way out is to use the marker you have to add a box that says 'get a marker' to the line between you and 'start', then add a 'no' line from the trap box to 'end'.
}}

==Explanation==
[[Wikipedia:Flowchart|Flowcharts]] are diagrams used to show the logical flow of an algorithm, process, or program. In this comic, Randall uses the fact that flowcharts can indeed be used to show a loop in the procedure: in this case, the reader will theoretically become trapped in a loop of reading the text in the diamond, following the line marked "YES," and ending back up in the diamond. Those familiar with flowcharts will notice though that, while diamonds usually contain decision questions (which can be answered multiple ways), the diamond here actually includes a statement instead.

The title text contains a futile solution to the loop: it suggests that the only way to escape the loop is to fetch a marker and add an additional "NO" arrow proceeding from the diamond to a rounded box labeled "END" before you start the algorithm at "START." However, to follow this suggestion, you would need the marker that you are about to write instructions to go get. Randall thus suggests that there really is no way to escape the infinite loop.

Of course, the reader could disregard the algorithm, go fetch the marker, follow the title text suggestion, and escape the infinite loop, but this would break the conventions of following the flowchart. This is perhaps part the comic's purpose - to suggest that a problem cannot be solved from within the confines of its own conventions.

Randall has made use of [[:Category:Flowcharts|flowcharts]] before.

==Transcript==

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Flowcharts]]

1195: Flowchart

2013-04-06T00:32:39Z

Csnchxkcd: Added explanation of the ironic implications in the title text

{{comic
| number = 1195
| date = April 5, 2013
| title = Flowchart
| image = flowchart.png
| titletext = The way out is to use the marker you have to add a box that says 'get a marker' to the line between you and 'start', then add a 'no' line from the trap box to 'end'.
}}

==Explanation==
[[Wikipedia:Flowchart|Flowcharts]] are diagrams used to show the logical flow of an algorithm, process, or program. In this comic, Randall uses the fact that flowcharts can indeed be used to show a loop in the procedure: in this case, the reader will theoretically become trapped in a loop of reading the text in the diamond, following the line marked "YES," and ending back up in the diamond. Those familiar with flowcharts will notice though that, while diamonds usually contain decision questions (which can be answered multiple ways), the diamond here actually includes a statement instead.

The title text contains a futile solution to the loop: it suggests that the only way to escape the loop is to fetch a marker and add an additional "NO" arrow proceeding from the diamond to a rounded box labeled "END" before you start the algorithm at "START." However, to follow this suggestion, you would need the marker that you are about to write instructions to go get. Randall thus suggests that there really is no way to escape the infinite loop.

Of course, the reader could disregard the algorithm, go fetch the marker, follow the title text suggestion, and escape the infinite loop, but this would break the conventions of following the flowchart.

Randall has made use of [[:Category:Flowcharts|flowcharts]] before.

==Transcript==

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Flowcharts]]

explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1195: Flowchart

1195: Flowchart