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Re: Elegance in programming, interfaces and documents
Subject:Re: Elegance in programming, interfaces and documents From:Kees de Bondt <cbon -at- WXS -dot- NL> Date:Sat, 25 Apr 1998 08:11:56 +0200
>In programming, we usually find one of two situations:
>1) The program achieves its functionality by combining a small set
> of generic functions. Also, each function is simple and mostly
> independent of the others.
>2) The program is ridden with multiple pieces of similar but not
> identical functionality. It is hard to pinpoint where does the
> program do something.
>
>Case (1) is an elegant program, and a joy to the eye.
>Case (2) is best avoided.
>
>I find a similar difference when I compare MS-Word with ClarisWorks.
>- In MS-Word, each major function has its own interface element
> to do something.
>- In ClarisWorks, the same generic interface element will work wherever
> it makes sense.
>
The parallel structure in this piece of text indicates, you think Ms-Word
is an elegant program, while Clarisworks has to be avoided...
Am I right?
Regards
Kees de Bondt
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