If you can write externals in Transcript syntax and NOT over-extend
the language to accommodate this demand, I don't have an issue. But
that is not generally the case. When people talk about writing
externals they generally (in my experience at least) mean they want
to make the tool do something its built-in language does not
inherently know how to do. There is in that desire a strong
implication of adding features to the language that I believe will
ultimately corrupt it to the point of not being accessible to mere
mortals.
It's what I call the Javazation of Transcript. If you have a need for
something in a program that Transcript simply can't do and if the
right way to solve that problem is with an external, then it seems to
me you should be willing to move outside the boundaries of the
language to do that thing, whatever it is. (These multi-dimensional
array manipulations, e.g., can apparently not be done satisfactorily
in Transcript.)
I'm *always* going to come down on the side of keeping the language
as simple as possible. In my opinion, it is already too burdened with
baggage that is of use to a tiny fraction of its users in order to
accommodate a few people with specific programming needs. As it
becomes more complex -- even if those complexities are posited as
"optional alternatives" -- it becomes more and more impenetrable to
those who do not have a computer science background or formal
computer training. Those folks already have enough languages to pick
from. I strongly desire for this one to escape the clutches of the
Programming Priesthood.
On Jun 23, 2005, at 6:35 AM, Rob Cozens wrote:
Why would any Transcript scriptor want to write externals in C or
Pascal if she could use Transcript syntax instead?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dan Shafer, Revolution Consultant and Author
http://www.shafermedia.com
Get my book, "Revolution: Software at the Speed of Thought"
From http://www.shafermedia.com/revolutionbooks.html
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