orr@cs.glasgow.ac.uk (Fraser Orr) (09/23/88)
In article <810002@hpmtlx.HP.COM> adam@hpmtlx.HP.COM ($Adam Kao) writes: >There is another point you made which I think deserves answer. You mentioned >that extensible languages lead to 'Towers of Babel' when many programmers >try to work together on the same project. This may be the most relevant >thing you've said yet :-). In fact, I think you should read "Computer >Languages" by Naomi S. Baron, Anchor Press/Doubleday. Ms. Baron is a linguist, >and her assessment of twenty-two popular and interesting computer languages >is both insightful and fair. (Needless to say, her assessment of Forth pays >appropriate homage to its unique power :-). As I've said previously, I think a linguist is probably the least qualified of all people to make judgments about programming languages then again I probably do Ms Baron an injustice, not having read her book. [ Stuff deleted, saying in essence ... >are designed for rapid prototyping, usually one programmer with one vision. ] >So this is really a question of technology appropriate to the situation. What >you say about large programming projects is true, but you haven't acknowledged >the OTHER programming philosophy. > >I subscribe to the second philosophy. I am not interested in creating huge >systems where my contribution is relatively minor. I am not interested in >programming for the Department of Defense. I view programming as a form of >personal expression, a way to create order and pattern that rivals poetry >in power and insight. Interesting how some people get their kicks :-> Really though if this is your thing then I feel that you are posting in the wrong group. I thought this group discussed the technical aspects of forth, not the aesthetic qualities. If this is your interest then fine, but I don't really want to talk to you about it :-> Moreover it isn't really computer programming. Perhaps though it is me that is wrong, do the rest of you want to discuss the artistic merits of various programming languages? >Adam Regards, ===Fraser.