From: tsandeson@mta.ca
Subject: Re: Simple programming language for Mac
Reply-To: tsandeson@mta.ca
Organization: Mount Allison U, Sackville, N.B. Canada 
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 20:47:50 GMT

In article <1993Jan11.045343.7138@Princeton.EDU>, jdunning@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (John Alan Dunning) writes:
>In article <1993Jan10.224520.11539@ultb.isc.rit.edu> sjk6119@ritvax.isc.rit.edu writes:
>>>How can a programming language be _too_ easy?
>>
>>Here's how:
>>
>>HyperCard is great. I luvvit. However, when I was first using HyperTalk
>>and HyperCard, I didn't consider it programming. It was just the feel
>>of the environment. It was too "easy" to link things together. There was
>>no feeling that I had created a program, but rather linked cards, and 
>>done some simple scripting. HyperCard/HyperTalk is great for doing custom
>>stuff, but IMHO, it is not the appropriate way to get people interested
>>in programming. It's tough to explain, but if you're trying to figure
>>out what would appeal to a kid, take a kid's point of view (i'm a kid).
>>I was hooked on programming after taking a BASIC course so long ago. When
>>I took HyperTalk, it was too "fun" and "easy", and just didn't seem like
>>something I wanted to continue with. (text deleted due to length)
>>
>>-Scott J. Kleper
>>"Sgt. Kleper"
>>age 15
>
>I agree that writing actual code is fun.  But I think most people
>can't imagine why anyone would want to program.  Too many piddling
>little details, which I can certainly sympathize with.  The current
>code-compile-debug cycle is incredibly primitive and inefficient.
>There's simply no excuse for runtime or compile-time syntax errors,
>the sorts of errors which really frustrate beginning programmers.
>The computer knows what the correct syntax is; it should be checking
>it as you're writing the code.  We've all better things to do than
>look for misplaced semi-colons or missing braces.  So if you can spare
>beginners these frustrations, why not do it?
>
                   (stuff deleted)
>
>But I think the vast majority of computer users don't want anything to
>do with coding, and never will.  Very few people can see the elegance
>of "while (*t++ = *s++) ;".  But why should they?  Why would anyone
>want to program in the first place?  Because they like the process of
>coding and/or they want to accomplish something which they are unable
>to with the currently available tools.  I think most users feel the
>second way sometimes, but almost never the first.  
>
>So I think what needs to be developed is a system that lets average
>users customize their computer and make it do exactly what they want
>it to.  Something like Unix shell scripts or AppleScript, but at the
>same time both more powerful and easier to use.  That's why I
>suggested something that lets you link ready-made objects graphically
>to create new apps.  It lets users create new functionality quickly
>and painlessly.  You can also give the same system to kids to learn on,
>because it takes an easy-to-learn building block approach, and they
>can continue to use the sam system as they get older.  I think it's
>important to have something that's both fun and easy to interest most
>kids and most adult users.  But for the more adventurous, like
>yourself, you can always just open up the individual obects and start
>writing real code to create new objects.  
>
>Sorry for ranting on like that.
>
>John

    His statement is correct in that alot of people may not want to
program because of the tedious amount of time involved reviewing bugs,
syntac's,...etc. As for a program to link functions together so as
to customize the comp. to do what they want I believe that there is such
a program out there that does this and creates the program source for you.
  This program is called PROTOTYPER (A programming tool) that is available
on the market since 91', I found this in a book about programming for the
mac which reviews all the programs out there for developers. I can get more
specifics for this program if someone is interested.

   TONY