Re: Paul Graham's Arc is released today... what is the long term impact?

Damien Kick <dkixk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

Indeed, I want my code to read like a text message from one of my
thirteen year old cousins. I've always been suspicious of people who
use big words, anyway. Think about how much more efficient public
debate has become since we've introduced sound bites and message
advertisements. I'm sorry, ads. Any concept fundamental to a system
of thought is best conveyed in a staccato rhythm of short syllables,
much like the quacking of a duck.

There are two points to consider here:

Readability: long/explicit names for functions can make the intent of
the code clearer. On the other hand, short - even "obfuscated" names for
often used functions can make the code easier to scan. A minimal amount
of knowledge of the language - or the project and its programming style
- can be supposed.

Ease of use: I use lambda a *lot*. I suspect I'm not alone in that. If I
had to use "compute-applicable-methods" as much as I did lambda, I'd run
away screaming. Or write a short alias.

Hell, even "lambda calculus" has the fussy sound of having come from
the liberal elite. That's five syllables to name something which was
meant to explain the underpinning of logical thought. And who does
that, anyway? I got the underpinning of logical thought for ya',
right here. My fist and your face. Argue with that, egg head. Oh,
and that stupid "amb da" part. Hard to say. Should have just been
"da calculus". Kinda like "da Bears".[1] Makes a nice short name,
too.

I don't care where it's coming from. It could be called /. for all I
care (as has been suggested in this thread). Except that /. is much
easier to type.

(funcall (da (x) (dwim x)))

What function? Da function. It ain't got no name. It's just da
function. What are you, some kind of commie? Oh, and funcall. What
kind of name is that? I just want it to do something.

(do (da (x) (dwim x)))

Just do da thing, you know what I mean, Poindexter? Now that's progress.

(call) would be fine by me.

[1] Can you tell I live in Chicago?

Not really. But then, I'm one of those european types.

--
Joost Diepenmaat | blog: http://joost.zeekat.nl/ | work: http://zeekat.nl/
.