Flowchart4VB.NET V 1.1.0

Automatic flowchart generator for VB.NET - VisualStudio.NET Addin
 

FlowchartVB.NET is a program visualization tool for VB.NET. It provides flowcharts for VB.NET methods generated from source code. The Control Flow Graph helps us to understand code flow quickly. Alternatively it is used for retro-documentation and program analysis.

FlowchartVB.NET - is available as an Add-in for VisualStudio.NET IDE, developers have an in-place program visualization tool which improves understandability of code. FlowchartVB.NET is interactive and provides features like code to flowchart synchronization, level folding,  block expansion, exports diagram to Microsoft Visio, highlighting complex conditions and exit points.

While a control flow diagram reconstructed automatically from source code could help understand the code quickly, exporting the flowchart diagram to visio makes it editable and helps developers to document their code quickly. A jump start for documenting core algorithms. Documenting at least the core/important functions of an application would only improve maintainability and provide solution to developer-lockin problem.

Why flowchart? Reading code is a sequential activity and if the code it too complex it will be difficult to construct a mental picture of the complete control flow. If understandability decreases, maintainability sure does.It should be even more difficult to explain the logic to others or successors. So, an editable flowchart which is generated from code would encourage developers to document their core functions.

Drawing such diagram manually would be time consuming and de-motivating activity, But if the diagram is automated, coders can focus on editing / writing short description which could make the code live longer.

Having said that a flowchart will not solve all maintainability issues, but it definitely contributes to improve maintainability, understandability and quick documentation.

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