Re: The Great Module Debate :) [was Re: solutions.... ]
Re: The Great Module Debate :) [was Re: solutions.... ]
- Subject: Re: The Great Module Debate :) [was Re: solutions.... ]
- From: has <email@hidden>
- Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2002 14:29:02 +0000
Mr Tea wrote:
>
>But anyway, I don't see how using mods precludes learning, and I don't see
>
>how using mods is any different to using scriptable applications and osaxen
>
>in any case (and those get recommended to newbies all the time).
>
>
The truth will out. These things occurred to me when I was considering my
>
first, unposted knee-jerk response to your 'let them eat mods' comment.
>
The result was that I disappeared up my own back passage trying to
>
justify my opposition. But then the esteemed Mr Garvey weighed in with
>
typically unequivocal candour, and I hitched a ride on his coat-tails.
Mr Garvey has a very fine set of coat-tails. I envy his coat-tails and am
not worthy to brush the dust over them. That doesn't stop me from
carelessly trampling all over them when I think I have a valid point of my
own to make.;)
>
I don't agree that using scriptable apps is in the same ballpark, though.
Ah, but it is. This is the really, really great thing that happens when the
"object" lightbulb turns on.
- A scriptable application is an object you send messages to.
- A scripting addition is an object you send messages to.
- An AS handler is an object you send messages to.
To each of them, all you're saying is "do something for me", and they do.
The internal details are *unimportant* [1].What it does mean is that your
mental model of how AppleScript works has suddenly got that much simpler,
because instead of thinking about A, B and C as three very different things
you're now thinking about them as three aspects of the same thing, with
many similarities and few differences [2] [3].
It's simply a different way of thinking about AppleScript. If you never
need to use AS beyond a couple lines of "tell application A to..." then
don't get too worried about it. But once you start getting "ideas" and
"ambitions", having a solid mental model of AS can be really, really useful.
Cheers,
has
[1] Yes, I'm aware they can have implications for performance, but this is
not what I'm getting at. This is about managing complexity and making
complex tasks simple, which, incidentally, is also AS's main raison-d'etre.
[2] I realise this is a slightly idealistic viewpoint, since AS makes you
use different methods to address each of them, thereby confusing the issue
somewhat. I don't have an argument with AS for choosing friendliness over
clarity. It's like my old Biology teacher at school who once told us that
we were going to be taught a lot of lies, simplifications and half-truths,
but for the purposes of passing our exams it'd do us fine.
[3] It took me several months to really realise this myself. It wasn't
nearly as easy as it could have been.