From: "Dave Schaumann" <dschauma@csci.csc.com>
Subject: Re: Definition of "operator" (was: OO, C++, and something much better!)
Date: 1997/02/19
Date: 1997-02-19T00:00:00+00:00 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <01bc1eb2$8fdb7ef0$5f030514@dschauma> (raw)
In-Reply-To: 330789FA.40A5@concentric.net
Alan Lovejoy <alovejoy@concentric.net> wrote in article
<330789FA.40A5@concentric.net>...
>
> So here's a theory: the term "operator" in programming languages was
> coined by applying it to those built-in procedures which were intended
> to
> be analogs of math functions that formally qualify as "operations."
Yeah, probably. Certainly one of the first uses of computers was to
model mathematical things. The problem is, computers (at least from
an OO point of view) model things in terms of what services they provide,
while mathematics models things in terms of what properties they have.
In mathematics, the statement "1 + 1 = 2" really means there is a set
called "+" containing the value (<1, 1>, 2). In the computer realm,
"1 + 1 = 2" means the ALU object provides an addition service, which
when given the inputs 1 and 1 results in 2.
> If the theory is true, then a case could be made that a procedure should
> be called an "operation" (and its name an "operator") if its math analog
> formally qualifies as an "operation" (a function whose domain is an
> n-order
> set and whose range is a 1-order set, such as "f(Complex, Complex):
> Complex").
> [...] It could be criticised as an ill-advised attempt to pretend
> that math functions and program procedures are equivalent
Just so. There are some similarities between CS and mathematics that
can be usefully exploited, but it's not hard to go past what these
similarities warrant (take, for example, the "circle is/is not an ellipse
argument on another thread).
> So the question is: shat should the terms "operator" and "operation"
> mean in computer science?
What do you mean "in computer science"? If you mean "within a programming
language", then an operator is whatever the language definition says it
is.
> Do you think the meaning of these terms should or should
> not be anologous to their meaning in math?
Certainly not.
> Why or why not?
Because "CS operators" are fundamentally different from "Math operators".
CS operators perform calculations. Math operators express a relationship.
-Dave
next prev parent reply other threads:[~1997-02-19 0:00 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 379+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
1997-01-16 0:00 OO, C++, and something much better! Jon S Anthony
1997-01-17 0:00 ` Don Harrison
1997-01-16 0:00 ` Matthew Heaney
1997-01-17 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-17 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-17 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-18 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-17 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-20 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-19 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-20 0:00 ` Damon Feldman
1997-01-19 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-20 0:00 ` Graham Hughes
1997-01-21 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-21 0:00 ` Matt Kennel
1997-01-21 0:00 ` Marc Robertson
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Mark Windholtz
1997-01-27 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
[not found] ` <32EE2FEE.62FE@p <32EE8415.2F5B@netright.com>
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-29 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-28 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Matt Kennel
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-30 0:00 ` David L. Shang
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Black box or white box (Re: OO, C++, and something much better!) David L. Shang
1997-01-29 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Jun Nolasco
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Graham Hughes
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Mark Woodruff
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Claus Reinke
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Lawrence G. Mayka
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Claus Reinke
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Don Harrison
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Don Harrison
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Richard A. O'Keefe
[not found] ` <E4voIF.86o@world.std.com>
1997-02-12 0:00 ` Ulf Schuenemann
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Matt Kennel
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Robb Nebbe
1997-01-23 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Richard A. O'Keefe
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Alan Knight
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Nick Leaton
[not found] ` <32E9BAAC. <5ce8t3$6gv@mulga.cs.mu.OZ.AU>
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Rolf Breuning
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Ed Shirk
1997-01-20 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-21 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Bob Jarvis
1997-01-20 0:00 ` Bill Gooch
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Damon Feldman
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Bob Jarvis
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Matthew Heaney
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Samuel S. Shuster
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Richard Kenner
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Eirik Mangseth
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Jun Nolasco
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Richard Kenner
1997-01-29 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Richard Kenner
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Nick Leaton
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Richard Kenner
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Nick Leaton
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Robert I. Eachus
1997-02-08 0:00 ` Robin Rosenberg
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-27 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Dennis Smith
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Matt Kennel
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Luther Hampton
1997-01-28 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Robert I. Eachus
1997-01-28 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Jacqueline U. Robertson
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-29 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Robert C. Martin
[not found] ` <5cr068$gpa@uni.library.ucla.edu>
1997-06-27 0:00 ` David Shang
1997-06-28 0:00 ` Ronald E Jeffries
1997-06-28 0:00 ` Mike Stark
1997-06-29 0:00 ` Mike Anderson
1997-06-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-06-30 0:00 ` Kohler Markus
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-29 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Rolf Breuning
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-26 0:00 ` James O'Connor
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-26 0:00 ` George Wolke
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Jerry van Dijk
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Jerry van Dijk
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Stanley R. Allen
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Bob Jarvis
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-19 0:00 ` Soren Skogstad Nielsen
1997-01-20 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Multiple Type Interfaces Jon S Anthony
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Dave Gibson
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-28 0:00 ` david scott gibson
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Matthew Heaney
1997-01-29 0:00 ` david scott gibson
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-29 0:00 ` david scott gibson
1997-01-21 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Matthew S. Whiting
1997-01-21 0:00 ` Matthew S. Whiting
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Don Harrison
1997-01-22 0:00 ` John Kuszewski
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Don Harrison
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Tansel Ersavas
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Travis Griggs
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Combining dynamic and static typing Don Harrison
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Erik M. Buck
[not found] ` <01bc0b21$6a8293e0$7df2ad80@wkst01.milagro.austin.tx.us>
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Nathan M. Urban
1997-01-28 0:00 ` David L. Shang
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Nathan M. Urban
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Russ McClelland
1997-01-29 0:00 ` David L. Shang
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Luther Hampton
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Marc De Scheemaecker
[not found] ` <5d0efr$meb@news.xmission.com>
1997-02-09 0:00 ` daniel damian burden
1997-01-27 0:00 ` David L. Shang
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Robert I. Eachus
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Robert C. Martin
1997-01-29 0:00 ` David L. Shang
1997-01-23 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Don Harrison
1997-01-27 0:00 ` John Woods
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Andy Bower
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-26 0:00 ` William Clodius
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Robert C. Martin
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Tansel Ersavas
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Damon Feldman
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Felix Beer
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Robert C. Martin
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Matt Kennel
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Del Archer
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Tansel Ersavas
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Tansel Ersavas
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Bob Haugen
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-26 0:00 ` TanselErsavas
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Samuel S. Shuster
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Larry J. Elmore
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-27 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-26 0:00 ` James O'Connor
1997-01-26 0:00 ` TanselErsavas
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Antoine Trux
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-27 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-28 0:00 ` OO, C++, and more and more useless arguments! Robert C. Martin
1997-01-28 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Al Christians
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-02-21 0:00 ` Chris Bitmead
1997-02-21 0:00 ` Eric W. Nikitin
1997-02-21 0:00 ` Brian Rogoff
1997-02-24 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-24 0:00 ` Brian Rogoff
1997-02-25 0:00 ` Eric W. Nikitin
1997-01-21 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Static vs. Dynamic typing again (was Re: OO, C++, and something much better!) Richie Bielak
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Bill Gooch
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Richie Bielak
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Richie Bielak
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Bob Jarvis
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Richie Bielak
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Eric W. Nikitin
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Damon Feldman
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Defintion, again, was Re: Static vs. Dynamic typing again David L. Shang
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Static vs. Dynamic typing again (was Re: OO, C++, and something much better!) Robert A Duff
1997-02-09 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-10 0:00 ` Matt Kennel
1997-02-14 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Robb Nebbe
1997-01-25 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! David N. Smith
1997-02-15 0:00 ` Static vs. Dynamic typing again (was Re: OO, C++, and something much better!) Pieter Schoenmakers
1997-02-16 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Rolf Breuning
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Jun Nolasco
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Mark Windholtz
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Richie Bielak
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Richie Bielak
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Eirik Mangseth
[not found] ` <32E85588.1978@parcplace.com>
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Paul Perkins
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-29 0:00 ` John Gale
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Damon Feldman
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Alan Knight
1997-02-08 0:00 ` Static vs. Dynamic typing again (was Re: OO, C++, and something mu Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-23 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Tim Ottinger
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Ted Dennison
1997-01-24 0:00 ` traymond
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-28 0:00 ` traymond
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Tansel Ersavas
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Brian Rogoff
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Reflection in Ada (was: Re: OO, C++, and something much better!) Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Eric W. Nikitin
1997-01-30 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Tim Ottinger
1997-01-23 0:00 ` James O'Connor
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Stanley R. Allen
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-19 0:00 ` Keith Thompson
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Don Harrison
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Robert I. Eachus
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Don Harrison
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-29 0:00 ` "(Sub)type" -safety Don Harrison
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Don Harrison
1997-01-20 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Ole-Hjalmar Kristensen FOU.TD/DELAB
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Stephen J Bevan
1997-01-21 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Richard A. O'Keefe
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Bob Jarvis
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Travis Griggs
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Russ McClelland
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-27 0:00 ` John Woods
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Multiple Type Interfaces Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-25 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Tansel Ersavas
1997-01-25 0:00 ` James O'Connor
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Lawrence G. Mayka
1997-01-26 0:00 ` James O'Connor
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-02-07 0:00 ` Richard A. O'Keefe
1997-02-07 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-02-12 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-13 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
[not found] ` <yf3ybcsm5ce.fsf@sabi.demon.co.uk>
1997-02-14 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-02-16 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-16 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-02-17 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-13 0:00 ` Richard A. O'Keefe
1997-02-13 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-02-18 0:00 ` Richard A. O'Keefe
1997-02-19 0:00 ` Mike Klein
1997-02-19 0:00 ` William Clodius
1997-02-19 0:00 ` Mike Klein
1997-02-19 0:00 ` richard
1997-02-15 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-16 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-16 0:00 ` Definition of "operator" (was: OO, C++, and something much better!) Alan Lovejoy
1997-02-19 0:00 ` Dave Schaumann [this message]
1997-02-19 0:00 ` Anders Pytte
1997-02-16 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Jon S Anthony
1997-02-18 0:00 ` Richard A. O'Keefe
1997-02-20 0:00 ` Matt Kennel
1997-02-20 0:00 ` Anders Pytte
1997-02-17 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-19 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-19 0:00 ` Mike Klein
1997-02-17 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-19 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-17 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-17 0:00 ` Definition of "operator" (was: OO, C++, and something much better!) Alan Lovejoy
1997-02-19 0:00 ` David L. Shang
1997-02-21 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-24 0:00 ` David L. Shang
1997-02-25 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-17 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Alan Lovejoy
1997-02-18 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-19 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-19 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-18 0:00 ` Definition of "operator" (was: OO, C++, and something much better!) Jon S Anthony
1997-02-18 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Bernard Badger
1997-02-21 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-24 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-22 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-22 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-22 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-22 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-25 0:00 ` Richard A. O'Keefe
1997-02-22 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-23 0:00 ` Definition of "operator" (was: OO, C++, and something much better!) Richard Katz
1997-02-24 0:00 ` David L. Shang
1997-02-25 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Jon S Anthony
1997-02-25 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-27 0:00 ` Clayton Weaver
1997-02-25 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-26 0:00 ` Mike Klein
1997-02-25 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
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