Message-ID:	<00d001c15b03$e37045e0$010000c0@anonymous>
From:	"Traveler" <traveler AT netti DOT fi>
To:	<djgpp AT delorie DOT com>
References:	<9qmkrh$581$1 AT tron DOT sci DOT fi> <000201c15a5a$fefaf2a0$4851c7cb AT a>
Subject:	Re: Making C++ little easier to beginners...
Date:	Mon, 22 Oct 2001 17:14:38 +0300
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Reply-To:	djgpp AT delorie DOT com

> 
> Hey maybe you should get this patented!
>     Experts might find your suggestions idiotic , but maybe beginners like
> it , infact i think its ok ... but u see by hiding simple intricacies like
> operators from beginners , you might be making them weaker , a lot of times
> (at least at my school where we learn C++ in our ciriculum ) we have some
> questions where we have to predict the result of an expression , which uses
> all the basic operators that  you changed to your liking using preprocessor
> macros.
> 
> Remember its not a war b/w boolean and C++ ... its about rules , when the
> syntax and semantic standards for a programming language are defined , they
> are done so for the convenience of the programmers , i.e to make code much
> more readable and easier to program. If you think you can embellish the
> legibility then you are welcome , but you should remember that in such
> course  you are depriving the beginners you wish to help of the much needed
> practice they can get on simple operators!
> 
You are right.
When somebody starts to learn a new thing (computer language or anything else)
there always is an certain 'threshold' witch must be crossed before you have that "So this is how this works..." feeling.
Of course every person has his own, unique way of learning. Some of them want to learn as much as possible in as fast as possible. Others like to progress more slowly so that they get the feeling of the 'big-picture' where everything has its place. The advantage of this is that when you know the principle of the whole thing then you can proceed to smaller details (i believe that the term for this is "top-to-down" problem solving method...).
It is quite often in these smaller detail parts (like in 'if...else' constructions) that one findīs not only one but several ways of doing things, after all, in most of the cases you could use 'switch...case' or even in extremely simple cases an 'table...index' method of making decisions.
 
Anyway, my primary intention was to show that even if there exist strict "rules" describing the way how things should be done you are not "hard-bound" to them. As you learn new things you should always ask in your mind: "Why is this thing done this way ?" and "Could it be done with another, maybe more faster/easier way ?".
Itīs like:
 
Knowledge = Learning = Trying= Asking;
 
Beginnerīs...No...ALL should keep asking when learning things.
Thatīs an healthy way.
 
I offered an suggestion for those who would like an different way of doing things and I failed.
Well, it doesn't matter...I already have an new idea that I could share ('Smart' variables) but it will take some time...
It's an constant evolution of ideas...some will prosper some will disappear
But it should always be keep in mind that even if somebody has made something it doesn't mean that 
it can't be done better...

I thank you for that you didn't immediately shoot my suggestion just because it wasn't the way so called "expert" do things...
 "Traveler2001AD"
 
 

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