Very few of us are farmers, nowadays. And, on a different note, has anyone been working with html5 features? (Especially: the ability to work with files, and/or work with webgl shaders?)
Thanks, -- Raul On Wed, Oct 23, 2013 at 11:49 AM, Dan Bron <[email protected]> wrote: > Sometimes, when they're carrying pitchforks. > > -Dan > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John Baker > Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 11:12 AM > To: Chat forum > Subject: Re: [Jchat] <small rant> Is it worth it to engage idiots over > moronic comments about array languages? > > Is it worth engaging idiots commenting moronically about any topic? > > > On Wed, Oct 23, 2013 at 12:08 AM, Dan Bron <[email protected]> wrote: > >> In such endlessly repeated scenes, it's not worth working yourself up. >> In fact, it's sometimes not even worth coming up with new ways of > responding. >> Why bother? Often it's best to simply defer to the luminaries of >> history who have commented on this topic (nobody wants to fight you >> when you're standing on the shoulders of giants). For example: >> >> "There are two methods in software design. One is to make the >> program so simple, there are obviously no errors. The other is to >> make it so complicated, there are no obvious errors." >> >> -- C.A.R. Hoare, founder in the field of computer program >> correctness and reliability, and laureate of computer science's >> highest award (the Turing award) >> >> "Only short programs have any hope of being correct." >> >> -- Arthur Whitney, computer scientist & inventor of the >> array-language K, which all of Wall St uses to predict markets >> >> "The fewer moving parts, the better" >> >> -- Every engineer of every discipline throughout time, ever >> (ok, fine: every engineer whose first attempt didn't kill him) >> >> But, you know, it's hard to get someone to change his mind, and maybe >> some would find the preceding unconvincing. I mean sure, some guy who >> got rich creating an array programming language and a weirdo obsessed >> with the reliability of computer systems support the concept of short, >> clear programs. But that's just 2 guys and the entire enterprise of >> human engineering throughout time. That doesn't tell us anything. >> Can't we dig deeper, get to the bottom of things? Surely there's no >> philosophical reason we should prefer simplicity? >> >> "Let thy speech be short, comprehending much in a few words." >> -- The bible (Ecclesiasticus, which, ironically, the >> Protestants cut out) >> >> "It is my ambition to say in ten sentences what other men say >> in whole books - what other men do not say in whole books." >> >> -- from the other end of the spectrum, Friedrich "God is dead" >> Nietzsche (demonstrating this is not a particularly localized >> sentiment) >> >> "It is with words as with sunbeams. The more they are >> condensed, the deeper they burn." >> >> -- Robert Southey, Poet Laureate of the British empire >> >> "Brevity is the soul of wit" >> >> -- William Shakespeare, another English guy (note, here "wit" >> meant "wisdom", not "humor") >> >> Ah, but perhaps we've strayed too far from software engineering; after >> all, plays and poems are very different things from programs, aren't they? >> Well, let's see if we can find a bridge from the wisdom of the Bard to >> modern computer programming. >> >> "Language is an instrument of human reason, and not merely a >> medium for the expression of thought" >> >> -- George Boole, guy who invented zeros and ones. >> >> Not bad. The very founder of computer science talking about reasoning >> with language. Still, not much in there about being concise, only > expressive. >> Let's see if we can do better. >> >> "By relieving the brain of all unnecessary work, a good >> notation sets it free to concentrate on more advanced >> problems, and in >> effect increases the mental power of the race." >> >> -- A.N. Whitehead; bah, a mathematician. >> >> "The quantity of meaning compressed into small space by >> algebraic signs, is another circumstance that facilitates the >> reasonings >> we are accustomed to carry on by their aid." >> >> -- Charles Babbage; that's better, the guy who built the >> world's first computer. >> >> Still though, Babbage built his computer before there was even >> electricity. Can't we get a little more modern, a little more >> relevant to practical software design? Ok, let's turn the clock >> forward, but continue with the theme of using language to express > ourselves briefly and clearly: >> >> "Programming languages, because they were designed for the >> purpose of directing computers, offer important advantages as > tools >> of thought. However, most programming languages are decidedly >> inferior and are little used as tools of thought in ways that > would >> be considered significant. >> >> [In contrast] APL is a general purpose language which >> originated in an attempt to provide clear and precise expression > in >> writing and teaching, and which was implemented as a programming >> language only after several years of use and development." >> >> Unfortunately, I've lost the reference for this one (I know the guy >> has something in common with the first person I quoted, Hoare). Maybe >> you could ask your commentor friend to look it up. >> >> -Dan >> >> PS: The real irony is, your friend doesn't even seem to recognize the >> value of /being able to quote the entire program/ he's complaining about! >> Try that with Java! You're going to need a bigger comment box. >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm >> > > > > -- > John D. Baker > [email protected] > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
