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[REBOL] Re: R: Re: When to use refinements? : was => {Re: Re: R: Re: VID: choice

From: petr::krenzelok::trz::cz at: 31-Jan-2002 6:27

Hi, :-) Alessandro Manotti wrote:
> I'm a software developer since 1980. I developed with many programming > languages, including C, some CPU assemblers, Pascal and Object Pascal, > Python, some tools like Macromedia Flash, Asymetrix Toolbook, etc... etc... > > These "traditional" languages have one common thing: "coherence", > "consistency". > > Even in English language, in Italian language (my language!) there is > "coherence". > > > The functionality does'nt change, but at the same time as > > *simplifying* the amount of programmer effort, VID has subtly *added* > also, > > because people need to learn syntactic exceptions to REBOL's norm. > > This surely goes gently against REBOL's philosophy. > > I think Jason is right. Even if I'm using a "dialect", even this one should > be "coherent". When I find an exception in a programming language, I must > learn either the standard syntax plus the exceptions. >
I don't follow the thread properly, but ... What is "coherent"? I know some ppl could be nervous of VID, mostly because the lack of documentation (I mean "low level" one - basic face composition and proper vid-creation-phase description, etc.), but in fact - dialects are not supposed to be just some kind of Rebol extension. It is, and it is not Rebol code at the same time. Look, your so called "coherency" is trade-off here ;-) Why to complain, because some traditional languages don't allow you to use different syntax? ;-) I remember myself moving to OO language. You can't sometimes start even with simple "hello world" example, if you are not familiar with classes, object instantiation, all that object dependencies etc. stuff. Dialects are fine, for the purpose they are defined. Our small group will use Rebol for Robotic telescope navigation one day. Some folks are skilled enough to write short "scripts" - in a dialect: [ set position x y move rect 20 decl 10 speed level 2 notify ccd camera ] ... in fact, I heard dialects come from astronomy field (Fortran). Can you see my point? Should my friends know anything about rebol syntax, it's datatypes, etc., if all they want is to navigate telescope?
> I admit it is not always easy to choose if using refinements or standard > function options.
hmm, I think that it is even technically possible to come up with dialect featuring func. refinements ... Cheers, -pekr-