Confirming evidence: To answer c and python questions at forums.devshed.com (ID b49P23TIvg) I reformat and rewrite the original code into my own style which almost always leads to understanding and solution. I often post j solutions alongside and link to [url=http://www.jsoftware.com]executable Iverson notation[/url] . I'm not aware of any converts. Oh well. Example from today: http://forums.devshed.com/c-programming-42/converts-a-bcd-number-into-a-binary-number-927990.html#post2813040
> Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2012 10:31:38 -0400 > From: Raul Miller <[email protected]> > To: Chat forum <[email protected]> > Subject: [Jchat] rewriting as a reading tool > Message-ID: > <cad2jou8drhjjpp3owzormcdiscofktqoxz8d8-hhhqzj9md...@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > I have noticed that when people rewrite code, and test it, they learn > something about the code. > > This suggests that, for example, rewriting code to use a different > style can be a good learning tool. > > The point here is not that the new style is superior, but that "change > the style" is a constrained problem that lets the reader dig into the > code, make changes, run tests, and (as a result) learn something about > how the code works. > > Of course, people can also get carried away and assume that their > style changes are a universal good, because they understand their > modified code better than the original. This might explain some of > the issues having to do with the popularity of verbose rephrasings (as > well as some of the popularity of new languages -- when a language is > new, people can be motivated to translate code into the new language > -- and, of course, they will understand the result rather well...). > > Of course, there can also be engineering benefits in language choice, > and sometimes there might also be engineering benefits associated with > a style (even if indirectly). But understanding can be a tricky > concept to understand, so I thought I'd offer my perspective here. > > Thanks, > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
