Re: Lack of software abstractions

IME, sentences with the word "inherent" tend towards nonsense.  I'm not sure
even what "inherent complexity" could possibly mean. If a concept is simply
stated, how complex could it be?

That being said, I would welcome Paul going from a minimal homepage to
perhaps doing a blog.  He has some truly interesting ideas.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
|\/| Randy A MacDonald   | APL: If you can say it, it's done.. (ram)
|/\| ramacd-Ec9gIrrHw6csA/PxXw9srA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |
|\ |                     | The only real problem with APL is that
BSc(Math) UNBF'83        | it is "still ahead of its time."
Sapere Aude              |     - Morten Kromberg
Natural Born APL'er      | Demo website: http://156.34.94.188/
-----------------------------------------------------(INTP)----{ gnat }-

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Skip Cave" <skip.cave-H+0wwilmMs3R7s880joybQ@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "General forum" <general-eCoxsOKuxbJl57MIdRCFDg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 7:47 PM
Subject: Re: [Jgeneral] Lack of software abstractions


> All programming languages are an abstraction to what is really going on
> in a machine. Some languages are just more abstract than others.
>
> J simplifies the NOTATION of complex things. It does nothing to reduce
> the inherent complexity of those things.
>
> Skip Cave
>
>
> Devon McCormick wrote:
> > Here's an interesting comment by Paul Robinson, mentioning APL, on how
> > software development
> > is hindered by lack of adequate abstractions:
> > http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks/24.54.html .
> >
> > This is something J is good at.  Though, in a way, it's too good: it
> > seems
> > when people
> > encounter real abstraction, they start talking about how hard it is to
> > understand.  However,
> > at some point this is an irreducible problem: even when you simplify
> > complex
> > things as
> > much as possible, they are often still complex.
> >
>
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