Thanks. I will continue to work on it.
You have helped a great deal.
--- In [email protected], "Brett McCoy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> On Thu, May 29, 2008 at 12:06 AM, bo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > I think an API is a small program that lets other programs
> > communicate with an OS. I did see them described as protocols. I
am
> > not sure which.
>
> Not quite. API is 'Application Programming Interface' and is
provided
> by an application vendor for developers to create 'extensions' to an
> application using a public programming interface. The API is
usually a
> library that you link to either at compile time or run-time. An API
> can be provided for different languages, even scripting languages.
> Operating systems provide a system API, so you can make system calls
> for things like file I/O, process management, etc. Some applications
> provide a plugin API, a specified set of functions your plugin must
> use to be able to run within the host application.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/API
>
> > Object oriented I think I understand. It is a programmng method
that
> > uses modules which can be called by a program. This enables the
> > program to make use of reuse, and code hiding. It makes for a
quicker
> > program. Similar to the subroutines we use to use in programming
> > basic, but instead of embeding them in the program the OO modules
are
> > separate like DLL files and can be called. From what I understand
> > API's can be built using OO.
>
> Even further off. I'd do a bit more research on what Object-oriented
> programming is... do a Google search. Have you ever used C++?
>
> > The discussion is on why one is better. I said that I didn't think
> > one was better. The API is used for a different purpose than the
> > object oriented programming. I don't think that is the answer they
> > are looking for.
>
> They're mutually exclusive -- object-orientation is a programming
> paradigm used with languages like C++, Python, SmallTalk, etc. An
API
> is just a programming interface. Asking if APIs are better than
> object-oriented programming is like asking if a wrench is better
than
> a screwdriver. They can be used together and both are useful for
> solving certain problems, but one isn't "better" than the other.
>
> > Am I close?
>
> I'd do some more research on both topics if I were you.
>
> -- Brett
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> "In the rhythm of music a secret is hidden;
> If I were to divulge it, it would overturn the world."
> -- Jelaleddin Rumi
>
