That seems sensible. The model of computing I described in my little tutorial is basically a slightly enhanced Random Access Machine (RAM), which is one approach to describing what computation is in its most basic sense. One reason that there are so many languages is that different languages have different philosophies: some (like Pascal) try to stay as simple as possible, not introducing mechanisms that are "not needed". Others (like Perl, Java or, to some extent, MUMPS) take the approach of introducing extra complexity into the language on the grounds that programs written in the language can be simpler and easier to understand. Object orientation (which I believe would best be treated in a separate tutorial) is just one such enhancement to the basic computational model.
To put it briefly, in object oriented languages, variables can have values with a type that can vary. It's not arbitrary (like it is in MUMPS) but these "types" (called classes) are organized into hierarchies (a dog is an animal and an animal is a living thing), and you may set a variable of type "living thing" to a birch tree, but not a variable of type animal. The next basic component of object orientation is that the way a value (called an object) behaves is determined by its runtime type. For example, if your living thing is a dog, then it may communicate by barking, but if it's a human being, it may communicate by talking. --- Kevin Toppenberg <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I think a generic description of programming ought to at least adress > object orientation. I know that M doesn't have it yet, but it is a > fundamental concept. > > Kevin > > > On 8/24/05, Gregory Woodhouse <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > Thanks. I kind of hoped the list could offer suggestions for > > improvement. > > > > === > > Gregory Woodhouse > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > "A hero is no braver than an ordinary > > man, but he is brave five minutes longer." > > -- Ralph Waldo Emerson > > > > > > On Aug 24, 2005, at 7:30 PM, Jerry Sherman(burnam) wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > Greg; > > > > > > What a great basic programming tutorial!! Maybe we should > capture > > > this and > > > put it somewhere???? > > > > > > Jerry E. Sherman > > > Managing Partner > > > Burman Consulting > > > 11504 Myer Road > > > Mitchellville, MD 20721 > > > (301) 346-8526 > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > www.burman-consulting.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------- > > > SF.Net email is Sponsored by the Better Software Conference & > EXPO > > > September 19-22, 2005 * San Francisco, CA * Development Lifecycle > > > > Practices > > > Agile & Plan-Driven Development * Managing Projects & Teams * > > > Testing & QA > > > Security * Process Improvement & Measurement * > http://www.sqe.com/ > > > bsce5sf > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Hardhats-members mailing list > > > Hardhats-members@lists.sourceforge.net > > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/hardhats-members > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------- > > SF.Net email is Sponsored by the Better Software Conference & EXPO > > September 19-22, 2005 * San Francisco, CA * Development Lifecycle > Practices > > Agile & Plan-Driven Development * Managing Projects & Teams * > Testing & QA > > Security * Process Improvement & Measurement * > http://www.sqe.com/bsce5sf > > _______________________________________________ > > Hardhats-members mailing list > > Hardhats-members@lists.sourceforge.net > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/hardhats-members > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------- > SF.Net email is Sponsored by the Better Software Conference & EXPO > September 19-22, 2005 * San Francisco, CA * Development Lifecycle > Practices > Agile & Plan-Driven Development * Managing Projects & Teams * Testing > & QA > Security * Process Improvement & Measurement * > http://www.sqe.com/bsce5sf > _______________________________________________ > Hardhats-members mailing list > Hardhats-members@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/hardhats-members > === Gregory Woodhouse <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> "Design quality doesn't ensure success, but design failure can ensure failure." --Kent Beck ------------------------------------------------------- SF.Net email is Sponsored by the Better Software Conference & EXPO September 19-22, 2005 * San Francisco, CA * Development Lifecycle Practices Agile & Plan-Driven Development * Managing Projects & Teams * Testing & QA Security * Process Improvement & Measurement * http://www.sqe.com/bsce5sf _______________________________________________ Hardhats-members mailing list Hardhats-members@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/hardhats-members
