[REBOL] Re: Need help for justification of using REBOL as dev language
From: ryanc:iesco-dms at: 10-Apr-2001 12:19
Hi, I wrote down several points I thought were important. My points generally
have to do with cost savings--a well proven sales tactic. This doc is not well
researched, or worded, but maybe we can build off it, or rewrite it, to produce
something a bit more professional for those who need it in the future. I Like
the idea of a comparison table, maybe this could be shrunk and altered into that
format?
--Ryan
************************************
* Self Documenting / Easy To Read *
Most REBOL functions use obvious words like "loop" or "read". Created words
can have names like "branch" or "get-name-rank-serial-number". Objects are also
very readable, "country/state/city/name". Assignments use the colon instead of
the equal, so they are never confused with comparison. This lends itself to
very readable code, lessening the need to painstakingly add remarks.
* Less Code *
REBOL functions are more oriented towards todays programming tasks. Many
normally complicated tasks can be done quickly in a single line of code, such
as:
>> send [bob--foo--com] "Its ready!"
>> write %file.txt "I am writing to a file!"
>> web-page: read http://www.foo.com/index.html
* Flexibility and Modularity *
REBOL's flexible and modular nature makes it simpler for programmers to
cooperate. Program interfaces are more obvious for a given task. For instance,
if I needed a programmer to write a function to parse a given web site and
return the linked sites, that would be all that was needed to be said. Even a
junior REBOL programmer would know to write a function that accepts a URL and
returns a series of URL's. In most other languages there would have to be a
discussion about what the URL would look like, how it is passed, as well as even
further considerations regarding the list that is returned.
* Excellent Debugging Capability *
Since REBOL can operate as a console, different parts of a program can be
debugged manually. Probes can be used to report values anywhere. Its self
documentation helps out alot too. REBOL programs are often modular, reducing
the search area for a bug. The program is often many lines shorter than in other
languages, therefore there are even fewer lines to search through when
attempting to locate a bug.
* Easy To Understand *
Since REBOL typically uses fewer lines of code, is self documenting, and easy to
read, it in turn is generally easier to comprehend the program. Saving a few
lines of code here and there may not sound like much, but even a small
difference can help significantly. Much like how it is so much easier to
remember a 8 digit number versus a 11 digit number. When a programmer gets
lost
in thier program, their productivity stops. The flexible and modular
archetecture of a REBOL program also helps the programmer keep his bearing as
well by allowing him/her to devide the program in understandable chunks.
* Faster Development *
While all the prior points save money on thier own right, they also add together
cumulatively greately reducing the time to develop a particular software
product.
* Multi-Platform *
Operating platforms come and go. Unix, Apple, OS/2, Microsoft, and it appears
Linux is next, but there are many other high quality operating systems, more
than ever before. Therefore it is very wise to develop using a cross platform
solution to extend the lifetime of a software solution if need be. REBOL runs
on 42 platforms with more on the way. No porting is typically required!
* Well Supported *
Unlike some free languages, REBOL is kept up by a fulltime staff minimizing
bugs.
* Easy To Learn *
What other languages can you learn to send an email in a minute? Most tasks can
be learned extremely quickly.
* Free *
Best of all Core is free and you can use any text editor to develop it. Saves
you money before you even start.
* COST SAVINGS *
All the points lists here contibute to an overall cost savings by using REBOL.
