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

["Brownsword, Andrew" <ABrownswor@...>]

While I agree in principle, symbol recognition isn't really the issue.
People are trained to read & write words, not punctuation.  This is
painfully demonstrated in most online chat rooms and forums.  :)  In my
experience, new programmers often spend a great deal of time staring at code
trying to find what turn out to be punctuation mistakes, but they can't see
them because they aren't used to looking at specifically at the punctuation.


-----Original Message-----
From: Dan Partelly [mailto:dan_partelly@rdsor.ro]
Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 9:09 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Re: syntax likes and dislikes (RE: Evaluating LUA)


>> { } 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.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>