On Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 9:42 AM, Robert Bradshaw <rober...@math.washington.edu> wrote: > > On Jan 15, 2010, at 7:25 AM, Andy Somogyi wrote: > >> I think javascript is actually a pretty nice language. It has some really >> nice functional features, is resembles Scheme in certain ways. The only >> problem I have with javascript is that it is not the same language as sage >> (python). If sage were written in Javascript, then of course it would be >> natural to write the UI in Javascript. >> >> BTW, A patch was just submitted to WebKit that enables MathML rendering! >> This means that a front end could have all the mathematical typesetting and >> layout that Mathematica has! >> >> But back to the question, is it better to write the UI in Javascript which >> implies that there needs to be a Python <-> Javascript glue layer (not too >> big of deal, just develop some glue that does dynamic binding, or use remote >> invocation), OR write the UI directly in Python which implies a bit of >> WebKit <-> Python glue? The WebKit <-> Python glue is again not too big of a >> deal, it already exists in Appcelerator Desktop (Again, Apache license), I'm >> not sure how efficient it is as I've never used it. Or, have native bindings >> to WebKit (generated via the WebKit idl files). >> >> Personally, I like the single language approach (all Python), makes things >> SO MUCH simpler. >> >> Any thoughts? > > > The advantage of the Python <-> Javascript glue layer is that you can share > more code with the existing notebook. Otherwise, whenever you're > implementing something the notebook already has, that's duplication of > effort (and future maintenance), and when you're implementing something the > notebook doesn't have, it won't benefit remote use. In the long run, I think > that makes using Javascript for the UI a better option. > > Also, you have the advantage that the Javascript code already exists, rather > than starting from scratch. It seems like the biggest drawback is not the UI > itself, but rather that it isn't a "normal" desktop app with its own window, > menu, etc. > > - Robert >
This question reminds me of this quote from the movie "Hurt Locker", in which an army colonel is asking a bomb squad soldier about the best way to disarm bombs: Colonel Reed: What's the best way to go about disarming one of these things? Staff Sergeant William James: The way you don't die, sir. http://uk.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3242263065/ (50- seconds in). William William
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