Podcast Summary
Time Interval Processing: Parse and sum up time intervals from an inconsistent timesheet using regular expressions and a helper function to create an array of objects, then reduce over the array to find the total hours.
With the help of JavaScript, you can process and add up time intervals from an inconsistent timesheet in a robust way. The discussion began by describing the frustration of dealing with an unreliable time tracking system and a hovering boss. To tackle this issue, we learned how to parse and sum up time intervals using regular expressions and a helper function. First, we split the timesheet string into individual lines and reduced over them to create an array of objects. For each object, we split the line around the year and collected all time range intervals. Then, we reduced over the time ranges, parsing each as a JavaScript date object using the helper function and the date string from the first step. Finally, we reduced over the array of objects to find the total hours. Building an array of objects has distinct advantages over simply extracting and adding time intervals. It makes for easy traversal after the fact, allowing for additional processing like graphing daily times. By following this three-step algorithm, we can take control of our time tracking and ensure accuracy, even when dealing with inconsistent data.
JavaScript timesheets: Using JavaScript, extract time data from messy timesheets efficiently with a single reduce over an empty object containing 'date' and 'hours' fields.
Working with messy timesheets can be a challenge, but using JavaScript to extract the time data can be accomplished through various methods. One approach is to save the date string for each record and use built-in JavaScript date arithmetic methods. However, this method has its drawbacks, such as requiring two big traversals and using regular expressions that might get more complicated with a more complex format. To optimize the code, it would be better to use a single reduce over an empty object containing "date" and "hours" fields. While this method allows for the extraction of time data, it's important to remember that there are other ways to spend your time, like getting to know your colleagues or boss. In summary, with some creativity and coding skills, you can turn a messy timesheet into useful data using JavaScript. But always remember, there's more to life than just work! Thank you for tuning in to this Hackernoon story, brought to you by an artificial intelligence. Visit hackernoon.com to read, write, learn and publish.