Re: argument about encapsulating data sublanguage

Bob Badour wrote:
> Gene Wirchenko wrote:
>
> > "Marshall" <marshall.spight_at_gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>On Dec 28, 11:39 am, Gene Wirchenko <g..._at_ocis.net> wrote:
> >>
> >>>"Marshall" <marshall.spi..._at_gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Consider that most OOPLs, such as Java, contain a mix of notations.
> >>>>Both the modern OO notation "x.f(y)" and the old-fashioned math
> >>>>notation "x + y" are supported. But why should we continue to
> >>>>use such a low-level way of doing things?
> >>>
> >>> OTOH, x.f(y) is typical hierarchical chauvinism oppressing y
> >>>merely because it is second. Have we not grown past that? Can we not
> >>>have relationships between equals: x+y?
> >>
> >>But in "x+y", the y still comes second! That's not equal!
> >
> >
> > But remember commutivity! x+y to y+x is a valid transform. x.f(y)
> > to y.f(x) might not be.
> >
> >
> >>You have reminded me of something the hollywood movies do
> >>when faced with two stars of the first magnitude, and the
> >>problem of how to give them equal credit. One gets the
> >>leftmost position, and one gets the topmost position. This
> >>will require a 2 dimensional syntax:
> >>
> >>+y
> >>x
> >>
> >>It works well, don't you think?
> >
> >
> > For simple subexpressions, but something like
> > +(a*b)
> > (c*d)
> > no. Maybe, I should restate that as
> > + *b
> > a
> > *d
> > c
> > I will stop at this point, or someone will take this and start a new
> > fad of POET (Pictorially-Oriented Expression Tool).
>
> There is a limitation with this approach. What happens when three
> equally A-list stars show up in the same movie in comparably important
> roles?
>
> I think you have to add motion with the text scrolling in reverse order
> just to get to three. One appears first, one appears leftmost and one
> appears on top.
>

A general solution: Have the operation as the axis and each operand as a spoke; all n operands are positioned at 360/n degree intervals:

_a_
b+c
_d_

To avoid any semblance of preference, letter fonts should be oriented outward and the picture ought to be rotating in an animated fashion with a randomized start position.

A more complex example:

(ax+bx+cx+dx) * (dy + ey):

__x_________y_
__a_________e_
xb+cx___*___+_
__d_________d_
__x_________y_

For the full effect, try to picture this with all operands rotating independently....

>
> >>>>Best of all, this lets me avoid sprinkling math formulas throughout
> >>>>my code. Yuck! That stuff needs to be segregated off in one
> >>>>place, so it doesn't gum up the works like so much sand.
> >>>
> >>>Have you figured out a way to avoid sprinkling logic throughout
> >>>code? Many people do not seem to like logic much, and you would be
> >>>doing them a favour.
> >>
> >>An excellent question! I shall work on it.
> > He/She has prejudices.
Received on Tue Jan 02 2007 - 22:33:33 CET