[REBOL] context of a function Re:(9)
From: galtbarber:mailandnews at: 25-Aug-2000 15:13
I hate to disagree with people that are smarter than me,
but I seriously think you are underestimating what it
takes to really understand rebol, especially for those
less brilliant.
I generally find that most of my knowledge of other
computer systems to gain insight into rebol is quite
helpful and revealing. Even having the context to
say, this is like scheme or logo in rebol, but that
is like some other language, etc. is all helpful.
So, yes, it is true that rebol is different in
important ways from other languages and therefore
you will have to gain a new understanding.
But this notion that you would be better off
starting from a point of total ignorance and
then everything would be easy is patently absurd.
When I have trouble with Rebol, if I was a less
knowledgeable user I would probably just give up.
Being able to make some guesses about possible causes
or solutions is much better.
So, the best way really, is for Rebol to tell us how
it works inside. When you know how rebol lists really
work, and string literals and contexts and words, then
you understand rebol. Ignorance or innocence isn't much
help.
Obviously, one should try never to allow preconceptions and
prejudice to inhibit understanding, and that is true of
everything, not just Rebol.
I am not a stupid person, even if I am not a genius.
I only got this far with Rebol because I am doggedly
persistent, not because I have the pleasantly uncluttered
mind of an infant.
I really like and respect you Andrew, and I appreciate
all the work you have done for Rebol and the members of
the list. I just didn't want to let this go by yet
again ...
Now, this doesn't mean that I am anti-Rebol or
want to be critical or whatever. We all love Rebol
and want to use it as much as possible! I still
don't know how forgetting everything I know is going to help
me figure out just what the heck read-io really does
and why timeouts dont seem to work as advertised for
downloading big files...
I will tell you, one of the joys of using Rebol
is that it's so much nicer than other languages
in many areas. If you didn't know something about
them you probably would wonder what the fuss
was all about when you hear people rave about Rebol!
-Galt
p.s. I bet Carl dreamed up Rebol, not by forgetting
everything he ever knew, but by knowing so much
about the current systems and their problems,
and deeply pondering causes and possible solutions,
and using insight gained throught deep experience
and hard work.
