Assembly versus Programming
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I know that many of today's programmers would disagree, but I don't think assembling web pages is "programming." I think that the term should be "software assembler" not "programmer." It's akin to automotive plant assembly versus automotive engineering. Of course, maybe the current phrase ".NET developer" encapsulates my view. Although I have not joined the growing anti-Microsoft throng, I can certainly see where they are coming from. The extraordinarily bloated frameworks and languages (especially C#) that are immature and inconsistent with language design principles, makes Microsoft an easy target. But so too is academia. If a child is taught a language (e.g., English, French, German, etc.) in a vulgar manner, the child will use that language as taught. Only with extra effort, will the child be cultivated to a more gentile and socially acceptable language. So too with programming language instruction. When I taught the computer science core curricula at a west coast university, I made sure that reasonable coding guidelines were included. Thus, one problem with today's programmers is failure to understand that programming is a discipline. Another is the failure to recognize that programming is applied mathematics.
Gus Gustafson
gggustafson wrote:
but I don't think assembling web pages is "programming.
Writing HTML/CSS code isn't programming... It's scripting at best, but more commonly just called "web design"... If you add Perl, PHP ASP, or JavaScript to the mix, it becomes programming. Don't call it "assembly", because that'll just be confused with low-level programming in ASM.
gggustafson wrote:
But so too is academia. If a child is taught a language (e.g., English, French, German, etc.) in a vulgar manner, the child will use that language as taught. Only with extra effort, will the child be cultivated to a more gentile and socially acceptable language. So too with programming language instruction. When I taught the computer science core curricula at a west coast university, I made sure that reasonable coding guidelines were included. Thus, one problem with today's programmers is failure to understand that programming is a discipline. Another is the failure to recognize that programming is applied mathematics.
Don't get preachy on us... Programming starts as an acquired skill, but becomes an art form when taken to a certain level. It's a combination of math, logic, visual arts, and... I can't think of a good word to describe system design at the moment. It's not just math.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels) -
gggustafson wrote:
but I don't think assembling web pages is "programming.
Writing HTML/CSS code isn't programming... It's scripting at best, but more commonly just called "web design"... If you add Perl, PHP ASP, or JavaScript to the mix, it becomes programming. Don't call it "assembly", because that'll just be confused with low-level programming in ASM.
gggustafson wrote:
But so too is academia. If a child is taught a language (e.g., English, French, German, etc.) in a vulgar manner, the child will use that language as taught. Only with extra effort, will the child be cultivated to a more gentile and socially acceptable language. So too with programming language instruction. When I taught the computer science core curricula at a west coast university, I made sure that reasonable coding guidelines were included. Thus, one problem with today's programmers is failure to understand that programming is a discipline. Another is the failure to recognize that programming is applied mathematics.
Don't get preachy on us... Programming starts as an acquired skill, but becomes an art form when taken to a certain level. It's a combination of math, logic, visual arts, and... I can't think of a good word to describe system design at the moment. It's not just math.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels) -
Ian Shlasko wrote:
I can't think of a good word to describe system design at the moment. It's not just math.
Craftsmanship
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I know that many of today's programmers would disagree, but I don't think assembling web pages is "programming." I think that the term should be "software assembler" not "programmer." It's akin to automotive plant assembly versus automotive engineering. Of course, maybe the current phrase ".NET developer" encapsulates my view. Although I have not joined the growing anti-Microsoft throng, I can certainly see where they are coming from. The extraordinarily bloated frameworks and languages (especially C#) that are immature and inconsistent with language design principles, makes Microsoft an easy target. But so too is academia. If a child is taught a language (e.g., English, French, German, etc.) in a vulgar manner, the child will use that language as taught. Only with extra effort, will the child be cultivated to a more gentile and socially acceptable language. So too with programming language instruction. When I taught the computer science core curricula at a west coast university, I made sure that reasonable coding guidelines were included. Thus, one problem with today's programmers is failure to understand that programming is a discipline. Another is the failure to recognize that programming is applied mathematics.
Gus Gustafson
gggustafson wrote:
languages (especially C#) that are immature and inconsistent with language design principles
C# is immature and inconsistent with language design principles? :wtf: How do you figure?
WE ARE DYSLEXIC OF BORG. Refutance is systile. Your a$$ will be laminated. There are 10 kinds of people in the world: People who know binary and people who don't.
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I know that many of today's programmers would disagree, but I don't think assembling web pages is "programming." I think that the term should be "software assembler" not "programmer." It's akin to automotive plant assembly versus automotive engineering. Of course, maybe the current phrase ".NET developer" encapsulates my view. Although I have not joined the growing anti-Microsoft throng, I can certainly see where they are coming from. The extraordinarily bloated frameworks and languages (especially C#) that are immature and inconsistent with language design principles, makes Microsoft an easy target. But so too is academia. If a child is taught a language (e.g., English, French, German, etc.) in a vulgar manner, the child will use that language as taught. Only with extra effort, will the child be cultivated to a more gentile and socially acceptable language. So too with programming language instruction. When I taught the computer science core curricula at a west coast university, I made sure that reasonable coding guidelines were included. Thus, one problem with today's programmers is failure to understand that programming is a discipline. Another is the failure to recognize that programming is applied mathematics.
Gus Gustafson
gggustafson wrote:
maybe the current phrase ".NET developer" encapsulates my view
It seems you encapsulated it all wrong. Such views should be Private, not Public!
It's an OO world.
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Ian Shlasko wrote:
I can't think of a good word to describe system design at the moment. It's not just math.
Craftsmanship
Vark111 wrote:
Craftsmanship
Perfect.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels) -
I know that many of today's programmers would disagree, but I don't think assembling web pages is "programming." I think that the term should be "software assembler" not "programmer." It's akin to automotive plant assembly versus automotive engineering. Of course, maybe the current phrase ".NET developer" encapsulates my view. Although I have not joined the growing anti-Microsoft throng, I can certainly see where they are coming from. The extraordinarily bloated frameworks and languages (especially C#) that are immature and inconsistent with language design principles, makes Microsoft an easy target. But so too is academia. If a child is taught a language (e.g., English, French, German, etc.) in a vulgar manner, the child will use that language as taught. Only with extra effort, will the child be cultivated to a more gentile and socially acceptable language. So too with programming language instruction. When I taught the computer science core curricula at a west coast university, I made sure that reasonable coding guidelines were included. Thus, one problem with today's programmers is failure to understand that programming is a discipline. Another is the failure to recognize that programming is applied mathematics.
Gus Gustafson
Yeah! Wot Tom said.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” I wouldn't let CG touch my Abacus! When you're wrestling a gorilla, you don't stop when you're tired, you stop when the gorilla is.
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I know that many of today's programmers would disagree, but I don't think assembling web pages is "programming." I think that the term should be "software assembler" not "programmer." It's akin to automotive plant assembly versus automotive engineering. Of course, maybe the current phrase ".NET developer" encapsulates my view. Although I have not joined the growing anti-Microsoft throng, I can certainly see where they are coming from. The extraordinarily bloated frameworks and languages (especially C#) that are immature and inconsistent with language design principles, makes Microsoft an easy target. But so too is academia. If a child is taught a language (e.g., English, French, German, etc.) in a vulgar manner, the child will use that language as taught. Only with extra effort, will the child be cultivated to a more gentile and socially acceptable language. So too with programming language instruction. When I taught the computer science core curricula at a west coast university, I made sure that reasonable coding guidelines were included. Thus, one problem with today's programmers is failure to understand that programming is a discipline. Another is the failure to recognize that programming is applied mathematics.
Gus Gustafson
Please, elaborate on your ill-formed arguments. Is your central tenet that having a framework means you can't program? From what I can gather, you seem to be arguing that only languages that provide you with no support mechanism is the only form of programming. So, I guess you program purely in assembly language, ironic considering your post title.
Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads
My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier - my favourite utility
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Please, elaborate on your ill-formed arguments. Is your central tenet that having a framework means you can't program? From what I can gather, you seem to be arguing that only languages that provide you with no support mechanism is the only form of programming. So, I guess you program purely in assembly language, ironic considering your post title.
Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads
My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier - my favourite utility
assembly is a huge support system, when compared to machine language. mnemonics? symbols? labels? luxury! and anyone who uses an OS is just a lazy poser.
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Please, elaborate on your ill-formed arguments. Is your central tenet that having a framework means you can't program? From what I can gather, you seem to be arguing that only languages that provide you with no support mechanism is the only form of programming. So, I guess you program purely in assembly language, ironic considering your post title.
Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads
My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier - my favourite utility
In my day, we had to program uphill, both ways!
The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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Please, elaborate on your ill-formed arguments. Is your central tenet that having a framework means you can't program? From what I can gather, you seem to be arguing that only languages that provide you with no support mechanism is the only form of programming. So, I guess you program purely in assembly language, ironic considering your post title.
Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads
My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier - my favourite utility
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In my day, we had to program uphill, both ways!
The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.
And we didn't have zeros, we had to make do with the letter "O".
_____________________________ Give a man a mug, he drinks for a day. Teach a man to mug...
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I know that many of today's programmers would disagree, but I don't think assembling web pages is "programming." I think that the term should be "software assembler" not "programmer." It's akin to automotive plant assembly versus automotive engineering. Of course, maybe the current phrase ".NET developer" encapsulates my view. Although I have not joined the growing anti-Microsoft throng, I can certainly see where they are coming from. The extraordinarily bloated frameworks and languages (especially C#) that are immature and inconsistent with language design principles, makes Microsoft an easy target. But so too is academia. If a child is taught a language (e.g., English, French, German, etc.) in a vulgar manner, the child will use that language as taught. Only with extra effort, will the child be cultivated to a more gentile and socially acceptable language. So too with programming language instruction. When I taught the computer science core curricula at a west coast university, I made sure that reasonable coding guidelines were included. Thus, one problem with today's programmers is failure to understand that programming is a discipline. Another is the failure to recognize that programming is applied mathematics.
Gus Gustafson
gggustafson wrote:
If a child is taught a language (e.g., English, French, German, etc.) in a vulgar manner, the child will use that language as taught.
And if a child is taught that one language is 'better' than all others then that child will look down on others that use other languages. Even when it is completely clear to others that there are many, many situations where being able to use another language can be very useful. Even vital. And of course the child will never even realize the potential benefits of being able to use multiple languages at the same time.
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Please, elaborate on your ill-formed arguments. Is your central tenet that having a framework means you can't program? From what I can gather, you seem to be arguing that only languages that provide you with no support mechanism is the only form of programming. So, I guess you program purely in assembly language, ironic considering your post title.
Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads
My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier - my favourite utility
Aye m'laddies! Gather ye hither as I regale thee with a story about that time I wanted to word-process a document. It wasn't too bad once I'd mined and smelted the metals needed to construct a computer using my own body heat and bellybutton as a furnace and component mould. Then it was just a matter of using my very own earwax and stomach acid to construct a home-made PCB for a motherboard. Then the trivial task of writing my own BIOS, OS and finally a word processing application in pure machine code began. Because, you know, MS Word is for sissies.
A programming language is to a programmer what a fine hat is to one who is fond of fancy garden parties. Just don't try wearing any .NET language on your head. Some of them are sharp.
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Please, elaborate on your ill-formed arguments. Is your central tenet that having a framework means you can't program? From what I can gather, you seem to be arguing that only languages that provide you with no support mechanism is the only form of programming. So, I guess you program purely in assembly language, ironic considering your post title.
Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads
My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier - my favourite utility
I guess the thousands upon thousands of lines of code in my intranet where I work don't qualify as programming either since after all, it is nothing more than an asp.net web site that just happens to face internally only. and reach into 5 databases, and crunch numbers, and do accounting functions, and inventory, and control line machines, handles all the processes in our production.. but its not programming since after all its just a website that a wanna be programmer assembled..... Here I thought I was working as a programmer dealing with all this c# code behind but I was mistaken. I'm glad my mistake was pointed out to me.
Programming is a race between programmers trying to build bigger and better idiot proof programs, and the universe trying to build bigger and better idiots, so far... the universe is winning. Be careful which toes you step on today, they might be connected to the foot that kicks your butt tomorrow. You can't scare me, I have children.
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And we didn't have zeros, we had to make do with the letter "O".
_____________________________ Give a man a mug, he drinks for a day. Teach a man to mug...
Letters? yee weor lucky. We had tuh code 25 hoors a da, buildin the computor yeut iv aad milk crates an' empty bottles, an' entor values by bleedin wor ahn blud intee the bottles. Output wes tattooed intee the flesh on wor backs wi' rusty needles my entire family bled tuh death in an infinite loop, an' ah wes anny saved cos iv an overflaa error (which wes messy) You tell that tuh the bairns iv the'da, an' the' winnet believe yee!
MVVM# - See how I did MVVM my way ___________________________________________ Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011 .\\axxx (That's an 'M')
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assembly is a huge support system, when compared to machine language. mnemonics? symbols? labels? luxury! and anyone who uses an OS is just a lazy poser.
Chris Losinger wrote:
anyone who uses an OS is just a lazy poser
You made me waste a sip of beer, but 5 for the laugh!
I was HollyHooo but got tired of it and Sebastien was taken.
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gggustafson wrote:
maybe the current phrase ".NET developer" encapsulates my view
It seems you encapsulated it all wrong. Such views should be Private, not Public!
It's an OO world.
+5
Gus Gustafson
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gggustafson wrote:
languages (especially C#) that are immature and inconsistent with language design principles
C# is immature and inconsistent with language design principles? :wtf: How do you figure?
WE ARE DYSLEXIC OF BORG. Refutance is systile. Your a$$ will be laminated. There are 10 kinds of people in the world: People who know binary and people who don't.
How many languages do you know that have gone through four major revisions in less than ten years?
Gus Gustafson
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gggustafson wrote:
If a child is taught a language (e.g., English, French, German, etc.) in a vulgar manner, the child will use that language as taught.
And if a child is taught that one language is 'better' than all others then that child will look down on others that use other languages. Even when it is completely clear to others that there are many, many situations where being able to use another language can be very useful. Even vital. And of course the child will never even realize the potential benefits of being able to use multiple languages at the same time.
As a programmer fluent in COBOL, FORTRAN, Pascal, C, Ada, and C# (in their order of being learned - without help from academia), I have never, in my long and jaded career, suggested that one language was better than another. Each has their purpose. And as a senior programmer at that, I may have had to suggest that one language was better for a particular task. But never that one was better than another.
Gus Gustafson
