SCOUG-Programming Mailing List Archives

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Date:	Thu, 7 Aug 2003 17:50:26 PDT7
From:	"Lynn H. Maxson" <lmaxson@pacbell.net >
Reply-To:	scoug-programming@scoug.com
To:	< "scoug-programming@scoug.com" > scoug-programming@scoug.com >
Subject:	SCOUG-Programming: Re: Warpstock 2003 Presentation

Content Type: text/plain

Peter Skye writes:
"Lynn, I'm looking for some structure in your project and not
finding any. You state a lofty goal but appear to be seeking it
with an aimless, random walk. ..."

Let's not confuse the discussion on this mailing list with "my"
project. We've initiated a project in the SCOUG programming
SIG to bolster open source. For thee months after we initiated
this the regular SCOUG meeting ran into our time. We're by
that now.

Moreover SCOUG is blessed with people experienced in
different programming languages. It seemed like a good idea
to use a set of common algorithms which different people
wrote in languages of their choice. This would provide us
with a basis for comparative linguistics.

So far we have had two algorithms, one on peg solitaire and
the other on permutations, which people have presented
solutions in PL/I, APL, and Python. We need to expand both
on the languages represented as well as the number of
algorithms. We think we can use this to make more people
comfortable with more languages, that we can lessen the
reluctance that many have to enter programming.

Now I would welcome your presenting your views on using
English as a formal specification language in the September
SIG meeting. One, it would be good to enjoy your company,
and, two, we could explore it in ways that currently seem
difficult here.

None of this relates directly to "my" project. At the moment
Bob Blair and I essentially agree on the middle, the core
editor, while he favors the front end of interfacing to the data
repository/directory and I seem locked into endless discussions
on language and implementation details, the back end.

Tom Novelli is correct that Bob and I working together in a
few months could produce a working prototype. I feel very
much like Mark Twain when he said that he and Rudyard
Kipling knew everything. He, Kipling, knew all there was to
know and he, Twain, knew all the rest. In short Bob certainly
doesn't need me.

Bob's interest centers about having a literate programming
capability. If my project didn't offer that as a builtin function,
he (Bob) would have no interest in it. That's why he places
so much emphasis on the front end, because that's the part
that sustains the literate programming.

Thus I am somewhat reluctant to suggest to anyone that they
do a google search on "noweb literate programming". I would
hate to lose Bob's support at this moment, but I have sort of a
personal thing about putting someone else's needs above my
own.

While I can sound didactic, I hope never to sound dictatorial.
If the programming SIG or my comments here seem to lack
structure, I'm not trying to impose something on a group of
people, but rather support our organizing and direction on the
basis of consensus. We just got off to a slow start for
reasons mentioned earlier. I prefer that we reach a group
decision on direction rather than act as if I knew what was
best. it's called democracy through friendly persuasion.

At 71 years of age I'm somewhat beyond trying to established
a new career path for myself. Tom may have more
involvement in music and woodworking. In my other life I
focus on (urban) farming and woodworking. In fact I'm going
to have to give this up in order to go to this evenings meeting
of the Conejo Valley Woodworkers Association.

Other than that I remain your faithful servant.

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