[ale] flip flopping on programming, now interested in c++

[Jim Kinney]

ilikecompilersthancanfigureoutmyspacebarisbrokenandidon'tusecapscorrectly:-)besidesclarityissooverrattedincodethat'swhyit'scalledcodeisn'tit

On Sat, Jul 7, 2012 at 9:56 AM, Ron Frazier (ALE)
<atllinuxenthinfo at techstarship.com> wrote:
> Hi Doug,
>
> I like compilers that totally ignore whitespace for what it's worth.
>
> I'm glad you liked the summary. Based on discussions here, I'm probably
> going to try the learn it myself plan, then develop some sort of portfolio
> of work to show to potential employers, like a designer does.
>
> Leam is trying to get me to switch to the GO language. I am considering it.
>
> I'll be 47 this year, so I'm not TOO much of an old fart. However, I have
> noticed that the teenie boppers behind the cash registers at stores look a
> lot younger now. I've had some substantial setbacks. But, I'm going to try
> to make the most of the last 1/3 - 1/2 of my life. I always try to keep
> learning. I don't know that it was ever easy, but it certainly isn't getting
> easier now.
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Ron
>
>
> --
>
> Sent from my Android Acer A500 tablet with bluetooth keyboard and K-9 Mail.
> Please excuse my potential brevity.
>
> (To whom it may concern. My email address has changed. Replying to former
> messages prior to 03/31/12 with my personal address will go to the wrong
> address. Please send all personal correspondence to the new address.)
>
> (PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
> call on the phone. I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy
> mailing lists and such. I don't always see new email messages very quickly.)
>
> Ron Frazier
> 770-205-9422 (O) Leave a message.
> linuxdude AT techstarship.com
>
>
> Doug Hall <doughalldev at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Okay, we've taken a small detour on the path to full employment, but
>> just for the sake of equal time...
>>
>> I used to be of the same mindset with Geoffrey on whitespace. The
>> language shouldn't force it on you. Then, I started using a web
>> templating language - haml <http://haml.info/&gt; along with its sister
>>
>> product "sass" (for generating css) in creating web pages. It was only
>> after using it for a while that I saw the true advantage of the
>> whitespace enforcement. For one, it's shorter. There's less to type.
>> Granted a curly brace takes up little room, and it's only one
>> character (as opposed to the 'do', 'end' bookends in ruby, for
>> example). But it's more than that. At least with haml, it also acts as
>> a bit of a syntax checker. You have to try really hard to write
>> invalid html in haml. The indentation shows haml precisely where to
>> put the closing tags for you. Plus, all my source (when you view
>> source on a rendered web page) is nicely formatted. I imagine Python
>> has similar advantages. Also, if you have things too deeply nested,
>> that's a sign you need to refactor (with or without whitespace
>> enforcement).
>>
>> So, that's it in a nutshell. Don't knock it till you've used it for a
>> while. In fact, remember me when you've left in one brace too many and
>> can't find the sucker. Won't happen in Python! There are advantages to
>> form and function working hand in hand.
>>
>> Ron, nice job on the summary. At 48, I'm a bit of an old fart myself.
>> "Old" is a lot more abstract now than it ever was, however. ;-)
>> Picking up new skills doesn't come as easily as it did when I was in
>> my twenties. I will say that at our age, we're as likely to get hired
>> by the breadth of our knowledge as the depth of it. You might be more
>> employable as an Obi-Wan Kenobi, than as Luke Skywalker, as it were. I
>> think you're on the right path, though. You've gotten some good advice
>> here. And remember --- use the source. (ducking for cover)
>>
>> Doug
>> ________________________________
>>
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>
>
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-- 
--
James P. Kinney III

Every time you stop a school, you will have to build a jail. What you
gain at one end you lose at the other. It's like feeding a dog on his
own tail. It won't fatten the dog.
- Speech 11/23/1900 Mark Twain

http://electjimkinney.org
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