[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> Jerry wrote:
>
> Ladislav,
>
> I am impressed by your recursive fib. In fact it inspired me to write a
> zero finding routine in a similar manner. If I am not imposing too much,
> can you tell me if it is functional programming?
>
> Jerry
I thought of renaming this thread "Discouraging dysfunctional
programming..." ;-)
I am trying to figure out if the Logo language trick of treating data
and functions the same falls under the umbrella of "functional
programming" or is it something that would make Djkstra
('correctness-compulsive' computer theorist) quiver? (anyone here
know?)
I know Alan Kay said he had to ignore the 'correctness' pundits to make
smalltalk work.
IMHO, a computer application that cannot run in the users' contexts
cannot be considered to be 'correct'.
I think traditionally, deductive logic has been used to 'prove'
(functionally) that a program is 'correct'.
What I have learned from Genetic Programming is that inductive logic can
be used instead, but most Software Engineers shudder to think of it, and
it runs counter to their training.
The chicken or the egg question that this raises is:
"Do we bring the problem to the computer or the computer to the problem"
I happen to be a "Bring the computer to the problem" kind of guy, since
I have to solve embedded, real-world problems, and set my firmware out
there for the users to wrestle with in the context of their problems.
So with that as a background, I like Rebol, because it has some special
"Bring the computer to the problem" ability.
The closest theoretical basis I have been able to find in the literature
for this is 'action semantics' which is derived from 'denotational
semantics'. I think an appropriate correctness could be defined and
proven, but it would run counter to traditional computer science.
Anyway, I want to be able to program in whatever paradigm is appropriate
for the context (be it logic, functional, imperative, OO, or ? ) and not
be constrained as to what I can only do to make Djkstra happy.
Anyway, not trying to waste bandwidth here, just some thoughts toward
uncovering the "meaning of digital life with Rebol"
Steve Shireman
