[REBOL] not so pseudo code? (an alternative to style changes)
From: brett:codeconscious at: 9-Jan-2002 23:00
While reading the style threads I visualised a rather strange method of
communicating the meaning of a Rebol program.
So the idea is this, imagine a function you have written - it should be
non-trivial perhaps with at least a loop and a condition
maybe a few, what the heck, make it at least 20 lines long.
Now imagine you are looking at the source using an enhanced viewer. What if
you could name (or comment) a given code block (I know we can but just bear
with me). Now the trick is that if you magic-click the code-block it
collapses into it's associated name (or short description). So visually your
function is now far simpler yet still only one function.
This is essentially what I do in my mind when trying to understand other
people's code (more accurately I tend to mentally group sections of code). I
thought though a block was a convienient unit of grouping for a Rebol tool.
Someone might say "it should be a function anyhow". I'd respond that it
could and perhaps this enhanced viewer might suggest such a refactoring. So
it has an active use as well as a documentry / learning use.
So I guess I'm saying that code in an enhanced viewr could have an comment
or name attribute attached that can be visually
very helpful. We have GUIs why do we keep commenting our code in syntax?! We
should comment the code values themselves!
Can someone write me one please? I'd like it yesterday thanks! :)
Brett.
