Re: syntax likes and dislikes (RE: Evaluating LUA)

["Dan Partelly" <dan_partelly@...>]

>> { } symbols) since non-programmers aren't generally trained to recognize
symbols as

This is really no more than 2 cents.

Well, my particular feeling is that any human beeing (or for that matter,
not even a dog )doesn't need any training to recognize symbols. The whole
learning process is symbol based and associating conscient brain processes
with them. Extrapolating, I thing words are nothing by symbols. An
association if you want, to allow verbal comunication.

Dan

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brownsword, Andrew" <ABrownswor@ea.com>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <lua-l@tecgraf.puc-rio.br>
Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 7:03 PM
Subject: RE: syntax likes and dislikes (RE: Evaluating LUA)


> Wow, I didn't expect so much of a response from my initial email.   :)
>
> FWIW (and keeping in mind I have yet to write a line of Lua code), I would
> rather see DO & THEN removed from the language (made optional in this case
> so that existing code compiles).  While non-programmer's might be an
> intended audience for Lua, the fact of the matter is Lua is a programming
> language and if non-programmers are to use it they will have to learn to
> program.  Fewer keywords to remember is generally better, but the syntax
> that is there should be verbose (i.e. begin & end rather than { } symbols)
> since non-programmers aren't generally trained to recognize symbols as
> easily as words.
>
> The lack of semi-colons (and other subtle syntax) is also a good thing --
> the C/C++ programmers among us have been trained through painful
experience
> to remember semi-colons and detect their existance (or lack thereof).
> Non-programmers who are learning to program Lua shouldn't be forced to
> endure the same torture.  Given this design goal, I don't believe that Lua
> should go through the same kind of "expressive compaction" that has become
> so extreme in C++.
>
> cheers,
>   Andrew
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dan Partelly [mailto:dan_partelly@rdsor.ro]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 8:45 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: Re: syntax likes and dislikes (RE: Evaluating LUA)
>
>
> I for one, Im completly for eliminating redundancy.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Passaniti" <jpass@rochester.rr.com>
> To: "Multiple recipients of list" <lua-l@tecgraf.puc-rio.br>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 6:29 PM
> Subject: RE: syntax likes and dislikes (RE: Evaluating LUA)
>
>
> > > With the current syntax you can almost
> > > form statements that read much like
> > > an English sentence:
> >
> > Find the 'then' in the following English sentence:
> >
> > If Sue is hungry she'll eat the apple.
> >
> > I honestly don't believe that removing DO and THEN from non-programmer's
> > introduction to Lua is going to be the biggest stumbling block they'll
> have
> > with the language!
> >
> > My interest in removing unnecessary syntax is not to reduce typing, but
to
> > make Lua a smaller and more trim language.  Admittedly, making two
> keywords
> > optional doesn't substantially result in a leaner language, but it is
> > consistent with the Lua author's stated goals.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>