Re: OOP - a question about database access

Alain Javier Guarnieri del Gesu <nntp_at_ajgdg.com> wrote in message news:<slrnbqtnpf.euq.nntp_at_ajgdg.com.invalid>... [[Stuff Removed]]
> > Any comments??????
>
> Well, for starters, object-oriented programming has reached a level
> of maturity where the crux of the practice can be defined. It
> follows the principles of encapsulation of data, developing to
> interfaces, not implementations, which is faciliated by
> polymorphism. An object-oriented language is pretty easy to spot. I
> don't think it is marketing hype. Many people do many useful things
> with objects.
>
> Secondly, where are there two programmers that practice the art of
> programming exactly alike? That quote could be applied to any
> attempt to lend discipine to software development. Its a cheap shot.

Sometimes humour just doesn't travel well.

It's not a cheap shot. It is intended to get people to stop and think about what they are conceptualizing. Each of us has a different approach to how we solve problems. Each of us will also have a particular mode of operation in relation to the methods that we think are effective. I have a number of different texts on the subject of software development - and IMHO, I think that the OO languages that have been brought to market have gone a long way to restricting the ability of programmers to effectively solve problems. This is a philosophical view to which I have come to from many years (20+) of being involved in software development of many different kinds. Over the years I have used many different languages with their associated paradigms - no one language or style of language has given me the facilities to solve all the different kinds of problems that I have encountered with the same ease. No one methodology has done it either.

I have met too many programmers who are locked into one methodology or one language and cannot think outside the box and when you use something different, it can lead to all sorts of "interesting situations". OO is just one tool in my toolbox, there are lots of others as well, each effective for particular kinds of problems.

In relation to your comment about maturity and the crux of the practice being defined - I still see many discussions in various places where there are widely differing opinions on the appropriate practice for OO. This is also true of other methodologies that are in use by programmers.

My personal belief is that too often, we (as programmers) are given the short end of the stick. So whether you use a BASIC, an assembler, BCPL, C, PASCAL, ML, SCHEME, ICON, LISP, BEFUNGE, REMORSE, TCL, PLI, SIMULA, FORTH, CLEAN, FORTRAN, COBOL, ADA, JAVA, C#, D4, or any of the other languages that have come into existance over the years, if all you have in your toolbox is only one language or paradigm then you are very limited in your ability to effectively solve the problems that come your way.

YMMV - your experiences are and will be different, that will give rise to a different viewpoint to mine. So be it.

regards

Bruce Rennie
(God's Own Land Down Under) Received on Tue Nov 11 2003 - 15:27:40 CET