Translate function

[skalogryz]

Just my guess: the OP asks to split the main-body-only program into subroutines. Probably another homework.

Well, I guess - no - it is the same homework goes on.
Splitting a program into subprogram is typical requirements of a (good) computer science course/teacher.

Provides a good skill of "structuring" a program or an algorithm. The skill is quite important for a good programmer.  Most of the students I knew couldn't master it at all.

[wildfire]

Most of the students I knew couldn't master it at all.

Yep, this is why I'm trying to coach kmalpha in the right direction without giving away too much. If he's struggling this early on then he has no chance unless he digs in now and gets his act together.

I have no problems giving pointers in the right direction but kmalpha has to show me he understands what's going on and does the necessary work.

@kmalpha, I apologise if you're a she but I had to pick a gender.

[skalogryz]

Yep, this is why I'm trying to coach kmalpha in the right direction without giving away too much. If he's struggling this early on then he has no chance unless he digs in now and gets his act together.

Nah... I learned that's better to give the straight solution - it just saves everyone's time.
Request for a "tip" is just a psychological reminder for a student - "if you don't do you it yourself, you've to pay for it" - this is how life goes

In many cases tasks like this might be the last task in the computer science course - so the training might not be needed eventually. Despite of the fact "structuring" develops "logical thinking".

[wildfire]

There is no way this is the last task in a computer course (if it is then the course is meaningless).

I'm fairly sure the instructor not only wants a procedure and function in there but they also want to know if the student understands the difference between pass by reference and pass by value.

I could be wrong and you could just be being a sarcastic  but I do honestly believe that kmalpha needs assistance but not spoon fed.

[typo]

Students are welcome on this forum, but he/she must show some effort, the forum is not an oracle where you ask something and an answer pops up.

In this case, as says skalogryz, you need at least to pay for it, which is exactly what happens in an oracle.

[wildfire]

Exactly

[skalogryz]

I could be wrong and you could just be being a sarcastic  but I do honestly believe that kmalpha needs assistance but not spoon fed.

I'm not being sarcastic, I'm trying to be realistic. I want to save everyone's time.

If you ask kmalpha he/she might reply to you: "oh yes, I need training", but the fact might be that he needs a ready solution. I don't know - ask him/her instead

But typically "I need help" subjected threads - are expecting for the solution. Actual "research" or "real problem" threads start with more narrow problem.  Thus "some effort" is seen from the start

[wildfire]

We'll agree to disagree, I find a few pointers along the way with me finding the rest of the solution more satisfying than someone just telling me the answer.

I'm happy to be a mentor and quite willing to spend time with kmalpha to point him/her in the right direction but I'm sure that if I give him/her the solution on a plate (s)he would find no satisfaction from that (and learn nothing) and neither would I.

I do have some experience in teaching computer programming (Mainly TP 5.5 old, but I do think it's relevant in this case).

[typo]

Wanting only an easy answer is offensive to the form members and an anti-pedagogical thing.

[skalogryz]

Every time a student shows up on the forum asking for help if the task, there're 3 types of reaction occurs:
1) anger (how dare you not to study yourself!)
2) mentor (what's your thinking? where did you run into problem?)
3) trade

Not so long ago, I saw "anger" pushed topic-caster away. As well as the caster mentioned he did "trade" in another place. "mentor" is also an excellent approach, but it could be tiresome, especially the student are still coming (which is a good sign, btw). There might be lack of people who's willing to mentor and/or lack of time for it.

Thus I find "trade" to be best approach.  Besides, a student looking for the "mentor" would definitely reject "trade" saying "I don't need for the solution, I need to understand". But you might not know this, until you offer the "trade" to the student.

Wanting only an easy answer is offensive to the form members and an anti-pedagogical thing.

What if a person learns by studying others' sources?

[typo]

What if a person learns by studying others' sources?

Yes, of course I consider this and sometimes I answer a student question because of it. I even show code and not only words.

But of course I don't have how to know what exactly the querist needs.

Sometimes he/she is not a programmer and needs a magical answer. So I think he/she must pay.

[skalogryz]

Yes, of course I consider this and sometimes I answer a student question because of it. I even show code and not only words.

But of course I don't have how to know what exactly the querist needs.

Exactly. You could make some small money for community and help a student.

A student who's actually looking for some mentoring will question the code asking for explanation.

[wildfire]

I'm not too sure I'm happy with the way this thread is going. Is a Mod suggesting that anyone at least trying to learn the language should pay?

I've plenty of free time on my hands and am completely capable of offering beginners a pointing hand, but to suggest new students (and it's obvious kmalpha is one) should pay for our expertise just sticks in my throat.

Yes, they should be encouraged to contribute (as should I) but I'm finding this thread quite distasteful right now and if it weren't from my love of pascal (from the Tandy TRS-80 days) I may be quite compiled to abandon FPC/Lazarus altogether.

Please someone tell me I've got this all wrong.

[typo]

No.

The payment is a possibility we are considering because the forum has received questions for magical answers.

The forum is free.

And we do not want to sabotage the programming schools responding to everything magically.

[skalogryz]

I'm not too sure I'm happy with the way this thread is going. Is a Mod suggesting that anyone at least trying to learn the language should pay?

Ah... there's the difference.
I don't see the question: "I've this task, how can I do it in pascal?" as a try to learn language. Just don't. I see as a try to get the homework done.

But this is very subjective, thus you may see it as an attempt to learn. 

So we'll keep doing the same, I'll offer "trade" where you'll offer "mentor". I'm fine with "sabotaging" schools. People who wants to learn programming - will learn. People who don't... just need to graduate.