Calling Functions: Buggy Code in JavaScript


Inside the code editor we've tried to define and call a function that would print the messages Hey coder! then Welcome back! to the console.

So when we ran the code, we expected it to print:

Hey coder!
Welcome back!

but it seems like we made some mistakes because when we run our code we get:

Welcome back!
Hey coder!

Assignment:

Your task is to fix our code such that it will print the desired output.

Understanding the Problem

The core challenge here is to ensure that the messages are printed in the correct order. The significance of this problem lies in understanding the sequence of function calls and their execution order in JavaScript. A common pitfall is misunderstanding the order in which functions are called and executed.

Approach

To solve this problem, we need to ensure that the function calls are made in the correct order. Let's start by examining a naive approach and then move to the optimized solution.

Naive Solution

In the naive solution, we might define two separate functions and call them in sequence. However, if the calls are not in the correct order, the output will be incorrect.

Optimized Solution

The optimized solution involves ensuring that the function calls are made in the correct order. We can achieve this by carefully structuring our function definitions and calls.

Algorithm

Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the algorithm:

  1. Define a function to print "Hey coder!".
  2. Define a function to print "Welcome back!".
  3. Call the function to print "Hey coder!" first.
  4. Call the function to print "Welcome back!" second.

Code Implementation

// Define the function to print "Hey coder!"
function printHeyCoder() {
  console.log("Hey coder!");
}

// Define the function to print "Welcome back!"
function printWelcomeBack() {
  console.log("Welcome back!");
}

// Call the functions in the correct order
printHeyCoder();
printWelcomeBack();

Complexity Analysis

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

Edge Cases

There are no significant edge cases for this problem since the output is deterministic and does not depend on any input. However, it's important to ensure that the function names are correctly spelled and called in the right order.

Testing

To test the solution, simply run the code and verify that the output matches the expected result:

Hey coder!
Welcome back!

Ensure that the functions are called in the correct order and that there are no syntax errors.

Thinking and Problem-Solving Tips

When approaching such problems, it's crucial to understand the sequence of operations and the order of function calls. Practice by solving similar problems and studying the execution flow of JavaScript functions.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we discussed how to fix a simple bug in JavaScript code to ensure that messages are printed in the correct order. We covered the problem definition, approach, algorithm, code implementation, complexity analysis, edge cases, and testing. Understanding and solving such problems is essential for mastering JavaScript and improving problem-solving skills.

Additional Resources