None of this changes the fact that people need something to help make sense
of the garbage that they inherit. If there is a tool that does only 50% of
the job well that will save many hours of tedious work.
"Joel Garry" <joel-garry_at_home.com> wrote in message
news:91884734.0305141323.4a4a4c23_at_posting.google.com...
> "Niall Litchfield" <n-litchfield_at_audit-commission.gov.uk> wrote in message
news:<3ec0aa97$0$29715$ed9e5944_at_reading.news.pipex.net>...
> > "Daniel Morgan" <damorgan_at_exxesolutions.com> wrote in message
> > news:3EC026D6.CDAF87EE_at_exxesolutions.com...
> > > The problem is one of appearance over substance. I am a firm believer
in
> > formatted code. Have been since I
> > > first put keyboard to disk. That said formatters encourage sloppy
> > practices with an expectation that the tool
> > > will solve the problem. Good code requires structured thinking and the
> > tool can't produce that.
> >
> > I don't buy the argument, though I do buy the idea that coding is a
logical
> > process.
> >
> > The current generation of word processors produce better formatted, more
> > attractive documents than vi. I can't believe that anyone seriously
> > considers that we should ditch Word for vi on the grounds that 'it
> > encourages bad writing'. Simlarly modern IDEs and editors aid well
>
> Ironically, I do feel that way about Word and vi, and I don't think I
> am alone in it. I think slashdot (or maybe somewhere else, like a
> newspaper article about computers in primary/secondary education...)
> had a thread about how grammar checking software encourages a lowest
> common denominator writing style, thereby limiting advanced reasoning
> in expository writing. Of course, autocorrecting and
> command-finishing software has always driven me nuts, since I wind up
> mentally noting the issue and starting to correct it at the same time
> the software is changing it, muddling my thoughts and the doc.
>
> > formatted, clear and readable code generation. A better tool does not
make a
> > better programmer, but I have a hard time believing it makes a worse
one.
>
> Daniel, I think you have a valid point, but I think you may be
> mis-evaluating a distinction between learning to code properly with
> good habits, and simple formatting correction. Even v$sqlarea is
> finally ignoring whitespace... :-)
>
> I guess it all depends on what the OP wants to do with it.
>
> jg
> --
> @home.com is bogus. Send in Chuck Norris and the Texas Rangers to
> round up all them lawless lawmakers! (I thought this was a hoax when I
> first saw this):
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/uniontrib/tue/news/news_1n13texas.html
Received on Thu May 15 2003 - 06:22:27 CDT
