20 Thursday Jul 2017
Posted in Blog
Tags
computer languages, computer programmer, data, Matplotlib, NOAA, programming language, Python, Pythonista, SQL, SQLite, xkcd
In the unlikely event anyone is reading this, and, more in the original spirit of “web logs“, as much a diary entry to record both the passing of time and the moment, after a long period of quiet, and in the long-winded run-on way that I sometimes have, a post.
19 Monday Dec 2016
Posted in CS101
Tags
computer language, computer languages, computer programming, computer science, GOTO statement, iteration, language design, loop statements, programming language, recursion
When it comes to what makes a computer (or any other) language a programming language, there are three characteristics usually required:
This post is just a brief note (for a friend) about the third item and why it allows three distinct options.
06 Saturday Aug 2016
Posted in CS101
Tags
computer language, computer languages, computer programming, computer science, language design, programming language, Turing complete
Back in the post HTML is not a programming language! I brought up the three properties required by a programming language. A discussion recently got me thinking about it again. This post is just some notes on those thoughts…
26 Tuesday Jul 2016
Posted in Fun
Tags
Algol, BASIC, C++, computer humor, computer languages, Forth, humor, Lisp, programming language, valley girl
Cleaning out some old boxes of papers, I came across one of those humor bits that circulate in any profession. Back in the day, it was usually by fax. Then it was email, and now Tweets and other social platforms. (The song remains the same.)
This one concerned “rare” (i.e. made up) languages loosely based on existing languages. The humor depends, mostly, on recognizing parodied languages and certain other topical references (like “Valley Girls”).
In other words, a lot of the funny has sailed, but I found parts of it cute enough to record here…
22 Monday Dec 2014
Posted in CS101
Tags
computer code, computer language, computer languages, CSS, data, data type, HTML, Java, JavaScript, programming language, variables
A webpage is a text document written in HTML. This document may also contain CSS and/or JavaScript, but it’s basically an HTML text document. You could write one — including the CSS and JavaScript — using just a pencil and paper.
Despite not needing a computer to write, all three are computer languages — they are languages used by, understood by, computers (and trained humans). However only one of those (JavaScript) is a programming language.
This is a brief explanation of which is which and why.
15 Tuesday Apr 2014
Posted in Opinion
Tags
computer languages, computer programming, computer science, data, data type, data types, strings, text, text file
The Strings and Text are not the same post on Musing Mortoray discusses the difference between “text” and “strings” and got me thinking. Rather than weigh down his (or her) comment section with a very long comment, I thought I’d go on a bit about it here.
I agree totally with the basic premise: that “text” and “strings” are different beasts. I also agree that text-handling depends on the text. There might be some difference in how we define text and string, and thinking about how I define them turned up a lot of thoughts on the matter. This isn’t intended as an opposition post (except on one point with regard to HTML). What follows is just one programmer’s opinion.
26 Wednesday Feb 2014
Posted in CS101
Clarity is the #1 priority when writing code. Clarity trumps everything else; it’s even more important than the code being correct! One of the biggest wins a serious programmer can offer is writing clear, readable code.
