Comments on: Variables and the roles they play http://p.einarsen.no/variables-and-the-roles-they-play/ Sun, 29 Aug 2010 13:30:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Functional programming and disappearing variable roles | Psychology of Programming http://p.einarsen.no/variables-and-the-roles-they-play/comment-page-1/#comment-1032 Functional programming and disappearing variable roles | Psychology of Programming Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:26:29 +0000 http://p.einarsen.no/?p=109#comment-1032 [...] writing about variable roles a while back, I’ve been thinking a lot about the way I use variables. The post also got quite a lot of [...] [...] writing about variable roles a while back, I’ve been thinking a lot about the way I use variables. The post also got quite a lot of [...]

]]> By: Accelerate your Perl learning | Psychology of Programming http://p.einarsen.no/variables-and-the-roles-they-play/comment-page-1/#comment-970 Accelerate your Perl learning | Psychology of Programming Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:23:25 +0000 http://p.einarsen.no/?p=109#comment-970 [...] for example, is what things like the “variable roles” mentioned in a previous post try to encode. They find how experts understand and use variables, and try to teach that to [...] [...] for example, is what things like the “variable roles” mentioned in a previous post try to encode. They find how experts understand and use variables, and try to teach that to [...]

]]> By: admin http://p.einarsen.no/variables-and-the-roles-they-play/comment-page-1/#comment-935 admin Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:10:54 +0000 http://p.einarsen.no/?p=109#comment-935 Steven Alexander, I already have, actually. I added the link below. I´m glad my post inspired you! Steven Alexander, I already have, actually. I added the link below. I´m glad my post inspired you!

]]> By: Steven Alexander http://p.einarsen.no/variables-and-the-roles-they-play/comment-page-1/#comment-934 Steven Alexander Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:04:47 +0000 http://p.einarsen.no/?p=109#comment-934 Thank you for a very interesting article. I've written a blog entry applying these ideas to my language of choice, SQR. I hope you'll take a look and find it interesting. Thank you for a very interesting article. I’ve written a blog entry applying these ideas to my language of choice, SQR. I hope you’ll take a look and find it interesting.

]]> By: Peoplesoft SQR » Blog Archive » SQR Variable Roles http://p.einarsen.no/variables-and-the-roles-they-play/comment-page-1/#comment-921 Peoplesoft SQR » Blog Archive » SQR Variable Roles Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:08:23 +0000 http://p.einarsen.no/?p=109#comment-921 [...] human brains play in the process of computer programming.”  His September 9, 2009 post is Variables and the roles they play, which summarizes the work of Jorma Sajaniemi and provides links to various academic papers on the [...] [...] human brains play in the process of computer programming.”  His September 9, 2009 post is Variables and the roles they play, which summarizes the work of Jorma Sajaniemi and provides links to various academic papers on the [...]

]]> By: admin http://p.einarsen.no/variables-and-the-roles-they-play/comment-page-1/#comment-907 admin Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:23:43 +0000 http://p.einarsen.no/?p=109#comment-907 Eric Normand: I'm glad you mention that. I was fiddling around making some modules for automating the variable roles, but realized that declarative style programming already does it in a smart way. If you look at my comment on the "Never mind the language, the programmer is what matters" about having programmer/algorithmic knowledge implemented in the language, this is probably one of the big things implicit in Lisp and family? And a far better solution than my idea of making scalars with a history :) Eric Normand: I’m glad you mention that. I was fiddling around making some modules for automating the variable roles, but realized that declarative style programming already does it in a smart way. If you look at my comment on the “Never mind the language, the programmer is what matters” about having programmer/algorithmic knowledge implemented in the language, this is probably one of the big things implicit in Lisp and family?

And a far better solution than my idea of making scalars with a history :)

]]> By: Eric Normand http://p.einarsen.no/variables-and-the-roles-they-play/comment-page-1/#comment-884 Eric Normand Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:26:25 +0000 http://p.einarsen.no/?p=109#comment-884 Man, what I wouldn't give to work on research like that! Something that comes to mind: if you look at the Common Lisp LOOP construct, it has many of these things built in. I think these could be very useful for teaching programming. They might also make programmers more productive if the language could statically ensure the variable was being used in the way it was declared. Perhaps, as in CL LOOP, the variable could be almost entirely removed and its functionality replaced by a more declarative construct. Man, what I wouldn’t give to work on research like that!

Something that comes to mind: if you look at the Common Lisp LOOP construct, it has many of these things built in.

I think these could be very useful for teaching programming. They might also make programmers more productive if the language could statically ensure the variable was being used in the way it was declared. Perhaps, as in CL LOOP, the variable could be almost entirely removed and its functionality replaced by a more declarative construct.

]]> By: Some Developer http://p.einarsen.no/variables-and-the-roles-they-play/comment-page-1/#comment-845 Some Developer Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:11:23 +0000 http://p.einarsen.no/?p=109#comment-845 What about these? toggled - Alternates between a pair of values. Typically, but not necessarily, boolean. enumerated - Takes on specific values from a set of values. bit field - In C/C++ like languages... stores multiple pieces of information return value - the value to be returned from a function/method volatile - In C/C++ like languages... variables that can change unexpectedly via an interrupt or another thread. What about these?
toggled – Alternates between a pair of values. Typically, but not necessarily, boolean.
enumerated – Takes on specific values from a set of values.
bit field – In C/C++ like languages… stores multiple pieces of information
return value – the value to be returned from a function/method
volatile – In C/C++ like languages… variables that can change unexpectedly via an interrupt or another thread.

]]> By: fREW Schmidt http://p.einarsen.no/variables-and-the-roles-they-play/comment-page-1/#comment-844 fREW Schmidt Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:42:10 +0000 http://p.einarsen.no/?p=109#comment-844 I think you are 100% right about functional stuff with more seasoned programmers. I personally hate to make accumulator variables (Gatherer) which is why I tend to use join (or it's more generic reduce) along with map a lot. The use of reduce and map I think typically will help me to avoid a number of those variable types. I think you are 100% right about functional stuff with more seasoned programmers. I personally hate to make accumulator variables (Gatherer) which is why I tend to use join (or it’s more generic reduce) along with map a lot. The use of reduce and map I think typically will help me to avoid a number of those variable types.

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