JavaScript/Recursive Methods: "Visualizing Recursion in the call stack" resource now behind paywall

[scottwright-dev]

Describe your suggestion

Having checked the additional resources section in the Recursive Methods lesson I can report that the "Visualizing Recursion in the call stack "appears to have now been moved behind a paywall for members only.

I have double checked this with my (free tier) Medium account and cannot access the full article. I think it may have to be removed as a resource.

Path

Node / JS

Lesson Url

https://www.theodinproject.com/lessons/javascript-recursive-methods

Checks

• [X] I have thoroughly read and understand The Odin Project Contributing Guide
• [X] Would you like to work on this issue?

(Optional) Discord Name

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(Optional) Additional Comments

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[CouchofTomato]

Agreed. Options are to find another resource or simply remove this one.

If you don't have another resource in mind then just submit a PR removing the one there. I'll assign it to you since you have indicated you want to work on this issue.

[scottwright-dev]

Thanks for assigning @CouchofTomato I can certainly remove the existing link. As a consideration for a replacement, as the main focus of the article appears to provide the learner with a way of visualising how a recursive function works I have a suggestion of an alternative resource which could fulfil this.

There is a site I have used in the past which I find helpful in visualising code: Python Tutor. The site has a helpful visualiser tool where you can input code in Javascript and it allows you to step through the sequence of the function.

For demonstration purposes, I plugged in one of the questions from the assignment section of this lesson, example here.

Perhaps this could be something to consider? I would be interested to hear your thoughts if you feel something like this tool brings some additional value to the lesson. If not I can go ahead and remove the existing resource.

[CouchofTomato]

@scottwright-dev

Yeah that looks like a decent resource. We could use the Javascript one perhaps?

[scottwright-dev]

Sure, sounds like a plan. For clarity would an example similar to the one used in the original article suffice? The article used factorials. So something along the lines of:

function calcFactorial(num) {
    if (num === 1) {
        return 1;
    }
    return num * calcFactorial(num - 1);
}

calcFactorial(5);

Which would be linked like this in the visualizer. Please let me know if thats suitable and I'll add it in. Many Thanks.

[Baguirre03]

Nooo. Thats so devastating, I wonder why on earth they would change that. I agree, maybe the visualizer would be nice, or maybe I could write something similar up 🤔

[CouchofTomato]

Sure, sounds like a plan. For clarity would an example similar to the one used in the original article suffice? The article used factorials. So something along the lines of:

function calcFactorial(num) {
    if (num === 1) {
        return 1;
    }
    return num * calcFactorial(num - 1);
}

calcFactorial(5);

Which would be linked like this in the visualizer. Please let me know if thats suitable and I'll add it in. Many Thanks.

Yeah, that seems fine.

[scottwright-dev]

Hi @CouchofTomato, I've submitted a PR with the replacement of the resource as we discussed.

The Python Tutor visualizer I've included is reasonably intuitive I think, but I'm mindful that new users might benefit from some additional guidance. Please let me know if you feel we should add a brief instruction on how to use the tool.

Many Thanks,

Scott