[REBOL] Re: Where are the dialects?
From: joel:neely:fedex at: 10-Jul-2001 14:51
Brett Handley wrote:
> Thanks Joel !
>
> > No grandiose claims here (TMTOWTDI), but you might find
> > the GENERATE-DATA dialect article useful...
>
> Like I asked Frank, having completed the dialect do you
> have any reflections on the process?
>
PRO: - It's very nice to be able quickly to craft a mini-
language for a specific problem domain.
- The effectiveness of such a mini-language depends on
having a "critical mass" of processes that are enough
alike to make extracting the engine worthwhile.
CON: - Deciding on the syntax of the mini-language can be
the hardest part (I punted on this and stayed at the
"assembler" level rather than trying to create an
entire high-level language).
- The classic trade-off between generality and speed;
a custom-crafted solution is usually faster, but also
more work to maintain/extend; a general solution is
more flexible but not as fast.
- The biggest danger of becoming too context-dependent
IMHO is the potential confusion from overloading the
terms that have different meanings inside the dialect
than outside, and from having unmet expectations set
up by the choice of common terms with everyday "baggage".
REBOL certainly has the chops to make dialecting a more
feasible practice than most languages. (Ever tried to use
lex/yacc with TLTMNBN?)
> BTW, What does "TMTOWTDI" mean - this is one dialect I
> cannot fathom.
>
(T)here's (M)ore (T)han (O)ne (W)ay (T)o (D)o (I)t -- it's a
well-known camel utterance (camel being the mascot of Perl ;-)
-jn-
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