This last little post by Richard makes me think of JavaScript, The Good Parts, by Douglas Crawford.
Crawford lays out a case for which parts of JavScript should be used and which are to be avoided at all cost. I wonder if something similar could be done with LiveCode. Or perhaps just a guide to what parts can be left behind. For example, I am reasonably certain that I will never need to write code that is compatible with HyperCard, So does that mean that I never need to use Send, and I can always use Dispatch? Todd On Mon, May 23, 2011 at 11:03 AM, Richard Gaskin <ambassa...@fourthworld.com > wrote: > > > There is a sense of theory about LiveCode's language, but it's equally > saddled by a richly varied history. > > The difference between "send" and "dispatch" is a good example: > > IMO (and perhaps most people's) the syntax for including arguments with > "send" is beautiful in its simplicity: > > dispatch "SomeMessage" to "SomeObject" with tSomeVariable > > Send is much funkier, requiring you to send the variable name as part of > the string being sent: > > send "SomeMessage tSomeVariable" to "SomeObject" > > > The "send" command first appeared in HyperTalk more than 20 years ago, so > when it was added to LiveCode the implementation remained the same for > compatibility. > > But once RunRev identified a need for a different message like "dispatch", > unencumbered by historic compatibility they were free to use more graceful > syntax. > > It might be nice if "send" could be enhanced in a future version to use the > "with" token to passing arguments, but with so many priorities to address > this will likely have to wait. > > So in the meantime we have one of a few such anomalies in the language. > > -- Todd Geist ------------------------------ geist interactive <http://www.geistinteractive.com> 805-419-9382 _______________________________________________ use-livecode mailing list use-livecode@lists.runrev.com Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences: http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-livecode
