From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=0.6 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_20,INVALID_MSGID autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 109fba,1042f393323e22da X-Google-Attributes: gid109fba,public X-Google-Thread: 1014db,1042f393323e22da X-Google-Attributes: gid1014db,public X-Google-Thread: 103376,1042f393323e22da X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public From: Jonathan Guthrie Subject: Re: Any research putting c above ada? Date: 1997/05/13 Message-ID: <5lapk7$7g3$1@news.hal-pc.org>#1/1 X-Deja-AN: 241447280 References: <5ih6i9$oct$1@waldorf.csc.calpoly.edu> <5iri6b$jn0@bcrkh13.bnr.ca> <5k60au$gig@bcrkh13.bnr.ca> <5k88f8$387@bcrkh13.bnr.ca> <5ku5tj$9d9$1@goanna.cs.rmit.edu.au> <5AB7287E9247441B.B61EDFD34B8F49B0.FCD25A82E03921C6@library-proxy.airnews.net> <0313A6944836C48E.193DB760B2AB7789.7A79EA9ECF40F6E3@library-proxy.airnews.net> <5l8gf8$2jp@mtinsc05.worldnet.att.net> Organization: Houston Area League of PC Users Newsgroups: comp.lang.c++,comp.lang.c,comp.lang.ada Date: 1997-05-13T00:00:00+00:00 List-Id: In comp.lang.ada Craig Franck wrote: > >Today, users expect to be able to use simple systems WITHOUT reading a > >manual. Certainly a system as simple as one for assignment submission. > Yes, but the CS professor is teaching *CS* students, not simple end > users of software. How is there a difference? Programs should follow the "law of least astonishment." That is, programs should behave in the manner that astonishes the user the least. That doesn't say anything about the user. If you are going to say "in this instance, it's okay if a program destroys important data without any user feedback because the target audience is special" which is what you appear to be saying, then we are going to have to agree to disagree. The program in question is defective, and should be fixed. "Hand holding" or not, teaching programmers-in-training (which is what CS students are supposed to be) that it is a good idea for programs to overwrite data without any indication that it is doing so borders on negligence, in my opinion. A much better approach would be to lead by example and at least tell the end user that something untoward is happening. I apologize if I have reached improper conclusions without sufficient evidence. -- Jonathan Guthrie (jguthrie@brokersys.com) Information Broker Systems +281-895-8101 http://www.brokersys.com/ 12703 Veterans Memorial #106, Houston, TX 77014, USA We sell Internet access and commercial Web space. We also are general network consultants in the greater Houston area.