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=-0.3 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00, REPLYTO_WITHOUT_TO_CC autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,5cb36983754f64da X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-Thread: 109fba,304c86061dc69dba X-Google-Attributes: gid109fba,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2004-02-11 17:21:44 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news2.google.com!news.maxwell.syr.edu!elnk-pas-nf1!newsfeed.earthlink.net!stamper.news.pas.earthlink.net!newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net.POSTED!01cc3b7c!not-for-mail Reply-To: "Richard Riehle" From: "Richard Riehle" Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada,comp.lang.c++ References: <20040206174017.7E84F4C4114@lovelace.ada-france.org> <54759e7e.0402071124.322ea376@posting.google.com> <2460735.u7KiuvdgQP@linux1.krischik.com> <1806342.U8nlC1YBRp@linux1.krischik.com> <7mYVb.18151$F23.15120@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net> Subject: Re: No call for Ada (was Re: Announcing new scripting/prototyping language) X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1106 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1106 Message-ID: Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2004 01:21:43 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 66.81.216.35 X-Complaints-To: abuse@earthlink.net X-Trace: newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net 1076548903 66.81.216.35 (Wed, 11 Feb 2004 17:21:43 PST) NNTP-Posting-Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2004 17:21:43 PST Organization: EarthLink Inc. -- http://www.EarthLink.net Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:5466 comp.lang.c++:18784 Date: 2004-02-12T01:21:43+00:00 List-Id: "Ed Falis" wrote in message news:opr253fyv98wdn3j@news.verizon.net... > On Tue, 10 Feb 2004 03:37:39 GMT, Richard Riehle > wrote: > > > People do not select their programming tools as wisely as they select > > their > > carpentry > > tools. > > While I don't disagree with the thrust of your comments, this one is off. > In woodworking and carpentry, there are many ways to get a specific task > done, and the choice of tool is often personal preference, just as it is > for programming language. 'tis true Ed, that there are many ways to accomplish the same task in carpentry. In fact, in carpentry, we often invent tools on the fly to create some unusual effect. This goes to the argument of whether programming is an art, a craft, or an engineering activity. When I am trying to be artistic (something I am not), my inventiveness is more far ranging. When I am striving for good craftsmanship, I am able to be inventive but more likely to choose tried and true tools and methods that have worked for me before. When I am engineering, I am encouraged to use well-established, published specifications, and the corresponding appropriate tools for design representation. As an artist, I work alone (most of the time). As a craftsperson, I am usually crafting solo. As an engineer, I must communicate with other engineers using settled knowledge, reasoning tools that communicate my ideas with clarity, and strive for a predictable outcome. If my tools are not conducive to predictability, they are probably the wrong tools. This is one of my reasons for disliking C++ as a engineering tool. Richard Riehle