DRAKON Flowcharts
DRAKON (Дракон) is a visual language for creating algorithmic flowcharts, developed in the 1980s for the Russian space program. The name is an acronym in Russian for "Friendly Russian Algorithmic Language that Provides Clarity."
Key Features
Clarity and Readability: DRAKON aims to make algorithms easily understandable at a glance.
Formal Rules: It has strict rules for diagram construction, ensuring consistency.
Silhouette: The overall shape of the diagram provides immediate insight into the algorithm's structure.
Primitives: DRAKON uses a set of standardized shapes (icons) to represent different actions and control structures.
Skewer: A vertical line that represents the main flow of the algorithm.
Branching: Clear representation of conditional statements and loops.
Hybrid Nature: Can be used purely visually or combined with textual programming languages.
Applications
- Originally used in the Russian space program for mission-critical software
- Expanded to other fields like business process modeling, medical algorithms, and education
Benefits
- Reduces errors in algorithm design
- Improves communication between team members
- Facilitates quick understanding of complex processes
Historical Context
Developed by Vladimir Parondzhanov and team at Russia's Nordpaket Institute during the 1980s, DRAKON was part of the BURAN space project, aiming to create a rival to NASA's Space Shuttle.