realbasic-nug-request at lists dot realsoftware dot com wrote:
Subject: Re: "You're not going to learn how to program in BASIC any more"
From: Alex Lindsay <alindsay at mac dot com>
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 08:16:13 -0500
I have always thought that the more flexible and forgiving the syntax,
the better the language is for learning. I also believe that flexible
syntax is often a bane as the complexity of a project increases,
especially when more than one developer works on the project.
I do not think so.
The more clear and clean the manuals are, the better 'usable' the computer
language will be understoud (?).
In clear, if the language follows what you said and the manuals are bad, dark,
obtuse, full of errors and so on, who will use it ?
The difference will be made on the documentation !
I have also thought that one of the more intuitive languages out there
is AppleScript. Almost anyone reading AppleScript for the first time
can understand it. Unfortunate, AppleScript is used mostly for
automating other applications, and how those applications respond often
muddies the waters!
I think that AppleScript would make a great teaching language if the
proper context and IDE were provided.
The problem is... AppleScript can be programmed using "Script Editor",
"Terminal", "XCode". Isn't it enought ? (in proper context and IDE)
The real trouble with AppleScript is that software provider (Apple for
AppleWorks for example) does not gives proper documentation...
Do you know how to works with AppleScript and XML ?
Do you know how to create - using AppleScript - a new document in TextEdit ?
Do you know, still using AppleScript, how to select (highlight) some characters
(or words or paragraphs) in TextEdit ?
To be completely honest, (I was an Apple Employee when AppleScript was born so
many years ago) I use AppleScript to make some small, simple things (some of
them I do not even know how I could do using REALbasic), and sometimes I need -
for some other small and simple things - to use REALbasic (because I do not know
how I can do it using AppleScript).
Syntax ?
Syntax checker under AppleScript, the Compiler under REALbasic... Word spelling
? Same answer as syntax...
Some problems have a simple answer. But if you get a cryptic error message, you
will pull your hair with both hands and scrap everything before getting an answer...
Back to basics: let the children understand what (s)he can do with a computer
and (s)he want to program right now !
Cheers,
Emile
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