Re: Declaration design preference: type or name first

On Wed, 31 Oct 2007 22:47:45 -0400, Mike Sieweke
<msieweke@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

[snip]
>I think you've chosen the wrong language model.  Variable definitions
>are more like a dictionary than like a sentence.  Have you ever seen
>a dictionary where the definition came before the defined word?
[snip]

The dictionary model is a good one, but most languages don't
follow it.  If they did the definitions would be separate from
the code.  In natural languages a symbol (word) has the same
definition(s) everywhere.  This is one reason why natural
languages are more readable than code - in code each scope is, in
effect, a separate mini-language with its own mini-dictionary.
Studies have shown that in large projects creating and
maintaining code is considerably more efficient if a dictionary
of definitions is agreed upon and adhered to.  It's something to
think about in language design.


Richard Harter, cri@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 http://www.varinoma.com
In the fields of Hell where the grass grows high
Are the graves of dreams allowed to die