Exercise Create Function in Java

We've written this code:

void mainFunction() {
	System.out.println("Hello AlgoCademy!");
	System.out.println("Coding is amazing!");
	System.out.println("Functions are so useful!");

	System.out.println("Hello AlgoCademy!");
	System.out.println("Coding is amazing!");
	System.out.println("Functions are so useful!");

	System.out.println("Hello AlgoCademy!");
	System.out.println("Coding is amazing!");
	System.out.println("Functions are so useful!");
}

Write the same code in a better way by creating and calling a function printMessages()

Understanding the Problem

The core challenge here is to avoid code repetition by using functions. Functions help in making the code more modular, readable, and maintainable. This is a common practice in software development to adhere to the DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) principle.

Approach

To solve this problem, we need to create a new function called printMessages() that encapsulates the repeated print statements. Then, we will call this function three times from the mainFunction().

Naive Solution

The naive solution is the one provided in the problem statement, where the print statements are repeated multiple times. This approach is not optimal because it leads to code duplication, making the code harder to maintain and error-prone.

Optimized Solution

The optimized solution involves creating a new function printMessages() that contains the print statements. This function will be called multiple times from the mainFunction(). This approach is better because it reduces code duplication and makes the code more modular and easier to maintain.

Algorithm

1. Define a new function printMessages() that contains the repeated print statements.

2. In the mainFunction(), call the printMessages() function three times.

Code Implementation

public class Main {
    // Define the printMessages function
    public static void printMessages() {
        // Print the messages
        System.out.println("Hello AlgoCademy!");
        System.out.println("Coding is amazing!");
        System.out.println("Functions are so useful!");
    }

    // Main function
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Call the printMessages function three times
        printMessages();
        printMessages();
        printMessages();
    }
}

Complexity Analysis

The time complexity of this solution is O(1) because the number of operations is constant and does not depend on the input size. The space complexity is also O(1) as we are not using any additional data structures that grow with the input size.

Edge Cases

There are no significant edge cases for this problem as it involves simple print statements. However, if the messages were to change dynamically, we would need to adjust the function accordingly.

Testing

To test this solution, simply run the main method and verify that the output matches the expected result:

Hello AlgoCademy!
Coding is amazing!
Functions are so useful!
Hello AlgoCademy!
Coding is amazing!
Functions are so useful!
Hello AlgoCademy!
Coding is amazing!
Functions are so useful!

Thinking and Problem-Solving Tips

When faced with repetitive code, always consider refactoring it into a function. This not only makes your code cleaner but also reduces the chances of errors. Practice identifying repetitive patterns and encapsulating them into functions.

Conclusion

In this exercise, we learned how to refactor repetitive code by using functions. This approach adheres to the DRY principle, making the code more maintainable and readable. Understanding and applying such principles is crucial in software development.

Exercise: Create Function in Java with O(1) Time Complexity