First time writing code, please offer pointers.

hello everyone,

i purchased arduino uno , after discussions on project board think have figured out how works start writing own code. , since first time doing request assistance. have read "before post" messages , i'm not looking write code me. more or less follow along , guide me in mistakes make them. have parts (still waiting on china post send last item 7 segment display) , have made list of how code like. no code has been created yet. want pointers on preliminary objectives , if it's easy enough follow along. feedback accepted. thanks

here have far.

objective: variably strobe output.               
               
input device0: momentary push button "debounced"               
input device1: momentary push button "debounced"               
               
output device0: output turning on , off @ preset time delays               
output device1: 7seg display               
               
code goals: push buttons move through pre-determined set of time delays               
               
code starts @ "off" state 00 showing on display.               
               
as input device0 pressed counts "up" next time delay                
as input device1 pressed counts "down" previous time delay               
               
once has reached "maximum" stops counting "up" , flashes display 4 times within 2000ms               
once has reached "minimum" stops counting "down"               
               
the "steps" should in order least most, steps include following values in time delay:
position   duration                                               display   time
0                 off                                                        00           --
1                 1 second on 5 seconds off            5-   5000
2                 1 second on 4 seconds off            4-   4000
3                 1 second on 3 seconds off            3-   3000
4                 1 second on 2 seconds off            2-   2000
5                 1 second on 1 second off            1-   1000
6                 2hz                                                    2   250
7                    5hz                                                    5   100
8                 10hz                                                    10   50
9                 20hz                                                    20   25
10                 25hz                                                    25   20
11                 30hz                                                    30   16
12                 35hz                                                    35   14
13                 40hz                                                    40   12
14                 45hz                                                    45   11
15                 50hz                                                    50   10
            
code call:                
set buttona input pin               
set buttonb input pin               
set laser output pin               
set var "holder"               
set led dual 7segment dual display               
var: holds count switches counts 0-15                

check state of , down switch               
if switch active add 1 var counter               
if down switch active subtract 1 var counter               

if var = 0 output off , display 00 on led               
if var = 1 output on 1000ms , off 5000ms , display 5- on led            
if var = 2 output on 1000ms , off 4000ms , display 4- on led            
if var = 3 output on 1000ms , off 3000ms , display 3- on led            
if var = 4 output on 1000ms , off 2000ms , display 2- on led            
if var = 5 output on 1000ms , off 1000ms , display 1- on led            
if var = 6 output on 250ms , off 250ms , display 02 on led               
if var = 7 output on 100ms , off 100ms , display 05 on led               
if var = 8 output on 50ms , off 50ms , display 10 on led               
if var = 9 output on 25ms , off 25ms , display 20 on led               
if var = 10 output on 20ms , off 20ms , display 25 on led               
if var = 11 output on 16ms , off 16ms , display 30 on led               
if var = 12 output on 14ms , off 14ms , display 35 on led               
if var = 13 output on 12ms , off 12ms , display 40 on led               
if var = 14 output on 11ms , off 11ms , display 45 on led               
if var = 15 output on 10ms , off 10ms , display 50 on led               

a few things.

don't try make whole project single item. break small parts , each part work separately before try bringing them together.

get project working serial monitor before try making it  display on lcd. code lcd tends lengthy , can obscure other parts of logic. also, if need on forum easier test code using serial monitor.

do not use delay() function manage timing. use millis() illustrated in several things @ time.

the thread planning , implementing program tries illustrate idea of developing project description (such have posted) code.

...r

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