Top down or bottom up?
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I'm plotting article 4 in my QOR series and I have a dilemma which amounts to should the article describe the library top down or bottom up. In other words demos and usage first and then break down the details of how and why or theory and detailed design first building up to usage and demos at the end. Which would you as a developer prefer to read? To give some context the Microsoft LOC counter calls it at 9833 lines, so a small library but it covers a lot of ground in terms of ideas and techniques. Some of the details are quite hairy but they may also be considered the interesting parts. PHDs have been awarded for less ;)
"The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom, courage." Thucydides (B.C. 460-400)
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I'm plotting article 4 in my QOR series and I have a dilemma which amounts to should the article describe the library top down or bottom up. In other words demos and usage first and then break down the details of how and why or theory and detailed design first building up to usage and demos at the end. Which would you as a developer prefer to read? To give some context the Microsoft LOC counter calls it at 9833 lines, so a small library but it covers a lot of ground in terms of ideas and techniques. Some of the details are quite hairy but they may also be considered the interesting parts. PHDs have been awarded for less ;)
"The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom, courage." Thucydides (B.C. 460-400)
My preference is always to be able to get up and running as soon as possible in order to see whather it suits what I need, and then I like to dig deeper. Starting with a broad overview and simple, specific starter cases keeps me engaged. Diving straight into the details means I lose sight of the forest for the trees.
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
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My preference is always to be able to get up and running as soon as possible in order to see whather it suits what I need, and then I like to dig deeper. Starting with a broad overview and simple, specific starter cases keeps me engaged. Diving straight into the details means I lose sight of the forest for the trees.
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Thanks Chris, your opinion as always outweighs a thousand others, especially when it's the only one. It's working much better top down anyway so I might have this one done before Christmas. :)
"The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom, courage." Thucydides (B.C. 460-400)