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[REBOL] Re: Coffee break problem anyone?

From: joel:neely:fedex at: 7-Nov-2003 10:44

Hi, Sunanda, [SunandaDH--aol--com] wrote:
> Your point is that it is usually best to start with the data > structures. I'd agree. But it isn't always that simple. >
I agree. Sorry for not being more precise. What I should have said (adding the omitted conditions/details) was: For problems where the input/output (or argument/result) data structures are already defined, it is usually very helpful in design, implementation, and maintenance to use the I/O (a/r) structures as much as possible as guides for the algorithm structure. This approach usually helps minimize redundant code, gives unambiguous guidance to where each part of the code should be placed in the algorithm, and minimizes the risk of bugs arising from accidental mismatches between the flow of the algorithm and the flow of the data. Of course, in cases where the nature of the data are somewhat up in the air (e.g. the problem is more vaguely specified, or the designer is given latitude to choose data/representation structures) there's clearly not so much heuristic guidance. Also, if the structure of the data changes, it may imply significant rework of the program.
> The actual original task was to find the best why to describe > the differences between two version of the same file. There is > a lot of subjectivity there. >
That's exactly what I meant by not "well-defined". I don't mean that as a negative description, but simply as an indication that there may be a period of more "exploratory programming" to try different ideas before choosing one as the basis for final design and implementation (or that the program may very well simply evolve, as various ideas/heuristics are added and tweaked). I suggest that in such a case, there's benefit from a program structure that makes it easy to figure out where to put such heuristics (and where to find them when its time to change or delete them;-)
> But "best" and "better" depend on the resources available. > In this case, they are a little restricted: >
Again, we'll certainly agree that the juggling and comprimises made when shoehorning a 10-pound algorithm into a 5-pound interpreter are at least as much art as science! ;-) -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Joel Neely joelDOTneelyATfedexDOTcom 901-263-4446 Enron Accountingg in a Nutshell: 1c=$0.01=($0.10)**2=(10c)**2=100c=$1