I think [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > Hi, > > I have a basic question > could u please tell me that what kind of problems > can be easily solved using functional languages > like Lisp or Jess rather than using a structured language > like C or Java. >
Great question. I am not sure what the answer is. AI people like it because I think AI people do a lot of
symbol manipulation (i.e not so much numeric manipulation but symbol). Also, I guess AI people are more
interested in telling the computer what to do instead of how to do it. Functional languages tend to be more
declarative than imperative languages like C, Pascal, or Java.
I think we, humans, think in an imperative way. We humans like to express our thoughts in an imperative way.
But the paradox is that, IMO, we humans like to see other's thoughts in a declarative way! If this holds
any water, then I would say that a declarative language is a great way to express the meaning of a
computer program when we want to communicate that meaning to humans and we hope the target audience
can manipulate that meaning (i.e. declarative programs). However, an imperative
one is a better tool for a human to put together that meaning.
Thus, if a functional language is also declarative, then use it when you want non-technical people to understand and
manipulated the programming logic you wrote.
Rules are great to communicate meaning, specially for dynamic logic that needs to be changed
frequently (i.e. business rules).
Neither Lisp nor Jess is really a functional language in the sense that ML or Haskell or OCaml are, although some dialects of Lisp offer good support for a functional programming style (Scheme in particular.) Because Lisp and Jess offer variables and assignment, they're really pretty much equivalent in capability and expressiveness to C and Java.
Turing complete functional languages are as expressive as an imperative language. The
issue is not expressive power but it is an issue of fit of use to the particular domain.
Agustin Gonzalez, Ph.D. Director Town Lake Software www.townlakesoftware.com 512-422-6806
-------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send the words 'unsubscribe jess-users [EMAIL PROTECTED]' in the BODY of a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED], NOT to the list (use your own address!) List problems? Notify [EMAIL PROTECTED] --------------------------------------------------------------------
