Professor Tanenbaum Is clearly a dedicated educator who places the creation of new knowledge and truth far above the day to day "wants" (Money, fame etc..) which drive so much human activity.
Kudos to Dr. Tanenbaum for his integrity and perspective.
I have found that much of the problem can be solvedby the tools we use to write the code as opposed to the languages themselves.
With tools that are more language aware (And I'm talking about a great deal more than just syntax checking here), many of the mechanisms described in the article can be achieved without adding huge amounts of extra work to the programmer's, already arduous, set of tasks.
For example, in a completely code aware environment the code authoring tool would "know" the interface contract and would be able to enforce it. If a programmer tried to modify a variable which was "input only" within the function they were modifying it, the editor could display a message letting them know they may not want to do that. the message could even be very subtle. For example, changing the background color around that variable name, or displaying some kind of "lock" when the cursor or pointer is on it.
The idea here is to reduce the cognitive load on the author-engineer by building tools that can do more of the "mechanical-automatable" parts of the programming without pushing those tasks off into the program's run-time environment.
Even programmers deserve ease of use consideration!
So does anyone have a pointer to a web site, email list or news group which makes it easy to contact large numbers of the asian suppliers who have business reps here in the US?
I have been able to find a few companies which export components or systems from the Pacific rim but none who do so at a cost which allows you to build/assamble systems more cheaply than you can buy them from the high volume PC marketers.
How about it? Anyone got a pointer? Lets see whats possible!
http://www.wordiq.com/cgi-bin/knowledge/lookup.cgi ?title=Beige_box&PHPSESSID=25e972fe4b3820d98f88c5f 6f446e40c
In consumer computer products, a beige box is a generic personal computer -- thus, an Intel PC as opposed to a video game console, a Macintosh, or a Unix workstation. The term is also sometimes used to distinguish generic "clone" PCs from name-brand models such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard. Most generic PC cases are in fact beige in color.
In consumer computer products, a beige box is a generic personal computer -- thus, an Intel PC as opposed to a video game console, a Macintosh, or a Unix workstation. The term is also sometimes used to distinguish generic "clone" PCs from name-brand models such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard. Most generic PC cases are in fact beige in color.
If you were starting a keyboard manufacturing business right now which layout would select to be your mainstream product?
Qwerty, slow, causes typos, harder to learn, more lilely to cause RSI, HUGE installed base
Dvorak, faster, easier to learn and use, less likely to cause RSI injuries, small installed base
Obviously, from a purely technical point of view, Dvorak is a better layout. But Qwerty is the correct choice. People will buy the one they know how to operate. they won't buy the unfamiliar one even if it is "better". Try selling Linux servers to IT shops which know only windows: You'll go bankrupt.
We need to use a GUI that people will be very comfortable with. people fear change or the effort involved in climbing a new learning curve. By avoiding the learning curve (and "change") we make it easier for folks to give Linux a chance. It is absolutely essential if Linux is to have any chance on the desktop.
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Professor Tanenbaum Is clearly a dedicated educator who places the creation of new knowledge and truth far above the day to day "wants" (Money, fame etc..) which drive so much human activity.
Kudos to Dr. Tanenbaum for his integrity and perspective.
I have found that much of the problem can be solvedby the tools we use to write the code as opposed to the languages themselves.
With tools that are more language aware (And I'm talking about a great deal more than just syntax checking here), many of the mechanisms described in the article can be achieved without adding huge amounts of extra work to the programmer's, already arduous, set of tasks.
For example, in a completely code aware environment the code authoring tool would "know" the interface contract and would be able to enforce it. If a programmer tried to modify a variable which was "input only" within the function they were modifying it, the editor could display a message letting them know they may not want to do that. the message could even be very subtle. For example, changing the background color around that variable name, or displaying some kind of "lock" when the cursor or pointer is on it.
The idea here is to reduce the cognitive load on the author-engineer by building tools that can do more of the "mechanical-automatable" parts of the programming without pushing those tasks off into the program's run-time environment.
Even programmers deserve ease of use consideration!
So does anyone have a pointer to a web site, email list or news group which makes it easy to contact large numbers of the asian suppliers who have business reps here in the US? I have been able to find a few companies which export components or systems from the Pacific rim but none who do so at a cost which allows you to build/assamble systems more cheaply than you can buy them from the high volume PC marketers. How about it? Anyone got a pointer? Lets see whats possible!
http://www.wordiq.com/cgi-bin/knowledge/lookup.cgi ?title=Beige_box&PHPSESSID=25e972fe4b3820d98f88c5f 6f446e40c
In consumer computer products, a beige box is a generic personal computer -- thus, an Intel PC as opposed to a video game console, a Macintosh, or a Unix workstation. The term is also sometimes used to distinguish generic "clone" PCs from name-brand models such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard. Most generic PC cases are in fact beige in color.
In consumer computer products, a beige box is a generic personal computer -- thus, an Intel PC as opposed to a video game console, a Macintosh, or a Unix workstation. The term is also sometimes used to distinguish generic "clone" PCs from name-brand models such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard. Most generic PC cases are in fact beige in color.
Qwerty, slow, causes typos, harder to learn, more lilely to cause RSI, HUGE installed base
Dvorak, faster, easier to learn and use, less likely to cause RSI injuries, small installed base
Obviously, from a purely technical point of view, Dvorak is a better layout. But Qwerty is the correct choice. People will buy the one they know how to operate. they won't buy the unfamiliar one even if it is "better". Try selling Linux servers to IT shops which know only windows: You'll go bankrupt. We need to use a GUI that people will be very comfortable with. people fear change or the effort involved in climbing a new learning curve. By avoiding the learning curve (and "change") we make it easier for folks to give Linux a chance. It is absolutely essential if Linux is to have any chance on the desktop.