Would it be possible to have a beginners mode where undefined variables are allowed? A user could easily change the mode to standard using say set_mode_standard() or something similar. Maybe have Sage state the mode both on the command line and in the notebook. The only problem would be that some people might share code that has undefined variables with people that are using the standard mode.
On Sun, Nov 2, 2008 at 6:58 PM, Ronan Paixão <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > >> I personally Python well suited to mathematical computation, >> and at least the approach in Python regarding undefined variables >> is consistent with every other general purpose programming >> language I've ever used. But it is definitely different than Mathematica. > > The problem lies in the fact that not everyone using a CAS is a > programmer (though obviously that would help a lot). In the same manner, > some people using other systems eventually learn how to handle it > (MATLAB's symbolic package requires declaring variables). > > A compromise solution would be the already proposed use of an init file > which includes a declaration of all single-letter variables (that would > help a lot, but also would create havoc for users who don't read the > manual and try to use multi-letter variables due to consistency, in the > same way it would avoid problems with function names typos). That's a > hard design decision in itself. > > Another solution would be to have an init file with that line commented > out, and a remark in the tutorial and the manual explaining its usage. I > believe that would be a good workaround, because whoever enables it > should know what he's doing and that would not create a consistency > dilemma (with the added effect of making the novice user know the great > help an init file can provide). > > Ronan Paixão > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ To post to this group, send email to sage-devel@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/sage-devel URLs: http://www.sagemath.org -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
