Hello,
I recently started a job in a studio that relies only on Mel, where python
is officially forbidden to use. I never used mel before. Since I am
familiar with C++ it was easy to learn, but still, I would like to share
some thought and try to explain
why I don´t like it. I only know 3 languages, python, c++ and mel now, so
maybe you can shed some light and tell me if my thoughts are wrong or if
you agree:
1-Why do you need to declare the data types in a high level scripting
languages? Aren´t data types declaration supposed to help manage memory to
optimize your programs? Since mel is high level, do you really need
declaring data types?
2-the dollar sign before each variable. why? it feels that mel is not smart
enough to understand . It needs not only the declaration data type, but
also a $ to understand that you are creating a variable.
3-working with strings is excruciating in Mel. In python, since everything
is an object you can access all the string methods. .capitalize(), .split()
etc... To do simple .split in mel, you have to create a empty array first,
then use a proc like tokenize, give it the name to split, where to do the
split, and cast it in the empty array, and finally, retrieve the index you
need in that array.... in python you simply do somehting like myName =
l_myControl_CTR.split("_CTR")[0]...
4- quote marks to have a variable take a return. so string $myArray[] = `ls
-sl`;
5- no default values on arguments?! you can' t do something like proc
myFunc(string $myName="foo", int $default=1)
(6. Also of course not having dictionaries , no external library, no OOP,
no access to the API are also big things to consider)
My point is not to criticize anyone using Mel. This list is just to help me
understand a bit better how scripting languages compare to each other.
When you work in a studio with a huge Mel legacy you have to get along with
it. And I do, I already developed many thing is mel. My only problem is
that I am not allowed to use python, but it is what it is.
Anyway, to sum up, for the reasons I exposed above, I find Mel not smart,
long, ugly, very painful when it comes to strings, and very limited.
So as I said, my point is not to criticize Mel, but try to understand it a
little better. Do you agree with anything I said, or am I just crazy
Thanks,
R
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