----boundary-LibPST-iamunique-1337189611_-_-
Content-type: text/plain
On Sunday, February 9, 2003, at 07:47 AM, brett wrote:
> 3) poor documentation -- it appears to be well documented -- but its
> not,
> it's just a collection of interesting 'articles' -- theres very little
> information on how to program BB !! Indeed I was so annoyed at this
> that I
> wrote my own user manual so at least I would not have to wander around
> the BB
> Help !! ( its 175 pages of useful stuff -- buts its not Pepperdine ! )
> Its so anoying to try and find "X subject" and simply get sent around
> the
> circle of links.
> In reference to Pepperdine -- his online manual is very good, but by
> introducing his own i/o system "because the standard I/o was too
> confusing !!"-- he really proves the point. I personally prefer to
> use the
> standard i/o of a language because at least some information is
> avaliable in
> the BB help.
The online manual was not intended to be general documentation for
BlackBox. It was developed to teach beginning programmers in a first-
year introductory programming course. (It is now available as a
paperback
book from Vieweg.) The quote about the I/O being confusing is
specifically
referring to beginners and applies mainly to the parser, which appears
to
be geared to parsing tokens for the compiler.
One of the greatest strengths of the system is that it is extensible. I
was
able to extend it to fit my need, which is teaching beginners the
fundamentals
of computing.
> So I used MySQL for all my file handling under BB.
But that is precisely what makes the system a good one. You can extend
it
as you like. The Oberon microsystems team is sensitive to backward
compatibility. I was concerned when I first adopted BB about the
stability
of the system over time, but that has proved to not be a problem. I can
even
run the Mac version (1.3.2 beta) under OS X classic quite well for my
class,
and even have an application that I distribute that way.
I do agree with you, however, that the BB needs more of an
infrastructure. I
would like to see an extensible graphics editor and a standard for
handling
sound.
And I also think better documentation on view programming would be
helpful. I have some ideas for that. The thing to do is to contribute
what
you have to the community so we can all benefit from it. My Pbox project
for easy text I/O is available online. Perhaps others would be
interested in
your MySQL module.
J. Stanley Warford
Professor of Computer Science
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA 90263
Stan.Warford{([at]})nowhere.xy
310-506-4332
--------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to:
blackbox-request{([at]})nowhere.xy
To get a list of valid e-mail commands and instructions on their usage, send a message containing the word "help" to the above address.
Send any problem reports or questions related to this email list to the list owner at
owner-blackbox{([at]})nowhere.xy
Current posting policy:
a) To post you should use the same address by which you are subscribed to the mailing list. That way, the list server will recognize you as subscriber and forward your posting immediately, without creating any overhead.
b) If, for some reason, you cannot post from the address, by which you are subscribed, your message will be moderated to avoid spam. Please understand that moderation will often cause some delay, in particular over weekends or holydays.
----boundary-LibPST-iamunique-1337189611_-_-
Content-type: application/rtf
Content-transfer-encoding: base64
Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="rtf-body.rtf"
e1xydGYxXGFuc2lcYW5zaWNwZzEyNTJcZnJvbXRleHQgXGRlZmYwe1xmb250dGJsDQp7XGYwXGZz
d2lzcyBBcmlhbDt9DQp7XGYxXGZtb2Rlcm4gQ291cmllciBOZXc7fQ0Ke1xmMlxmbmlsXGZjaGFy
c2V0MiBTeW1ib2w7fQ0Ke1xmM1xmbW9kZXJuXGZjaGFyc2V0MCBDb3VyaWVyIE5ldzt9fQ0Ke1xj
b2xvcnRibFxyZWQwXGdyZWVuMFxibHVlMDtccmVkMFxncmVlbjBcYmx1ZTI1NTt9DQpcdWMxXHBh
cmRccGxhaW5cZGVmdGFiMzYwIFxmMFxmczIwIFxwYXINCk9uIFN1bmRheSwgRmVicnVhcnkgOSwg
MjAwMywgYXQgMDc6NDcgQU0sIGJyZXR0IHdyb3RlOlxwYXINClxwYXINCj4gXHRhYiAzKSBwb29y
IGRvY3VtZW50YXRpb24gLS0gaXQgYXBwZWFycyB0byBiZSB3ZWxsIGRvY3VtZW50ZWQgLS0gYnV0
IGl0cyBccGFyDQo+IG5vdCxccGFyDQo+IGl0J3MganVzdCBhIGNvbGxlY3Rpb24gb2YgaW50ZXJl
c3RpbmcgJ2FydGljbGVzJyAtLSB0aGVyZXMgdmVyeSBsaXR0bGVccGFyDQo+IGluZm9ybWF0aW9u
IG9uIGhvdyB0byBwcm9ncmFtIEJCICEhICBJbmRlZWQgSSB3YXMgc28gYW5ub3llZCBhdCB0aGlz
IFxwYXINCj4gdGhhdCBJXHBhcg0KPiB3cm90ZSBteSBvd24gdXNlciBtYW51YWwgc28gYXQgbGVh
c3QgSSB3b3VsZCBub3QgaGF2ZSB0byB3YW5kZXIgYXJvdW5kIFxwYXINCj4gdGhlIEJCXHBhcg0K
PiBIZWxwICEhICAoIGl0cyAxNzUgcGFnZXMgb2YgdXNlZnVsIHN0dWZmIC0tIGJ1dHMgaXRzIG5v
dCBQZXBwZXJkaW5lICEgKVxwYXINCj4gXHRhYiBJdHMgc28gYW5veWluZyB0byB0cnkgYW5kIGZp
bmQgIlggc3ViamVjdCIgYW5kIHNpbXBseSBnZXQgc2VudCBhcm91bmQgXHBhcg0KPiB0aGVccGFy
DQo+IGNpcmNsZSBvZiBsaW5rcy5ccGFyDQo+IFx0YWIgSW4gcmVmZXJlbmNlIHRvIFBlcHBlcmRp
bmUgLS0gaGlzIG9ubGluZSBtYW51YWwgaXMgdmVyeSBnb29kLCBidXQgYnlccGFyDQo+IGludHJv
ZHVjaW5nIGhpcyBvd24gaS9vIHN5c3RlbSAiYmVjYXVzZSB0aGUgc3RhbmRhcmQgSS9vIHdhcyB0
b29ccGFyDQo+IGNvbmZ1c2luZyAhISItLSBoZSByZWFsbHkgcHJvdmVzIHRoZSBwb2ludC4gIEkg
cGVyc29uYWxseSBwcmVmZXIgdG8gXHBhcg0KPiB1c2UgdGhlXHBhcg0KPiBzdGFuZGFyZCAgaS9v
IG9mIGEgbGFuZ3VhZ2UgYmVjYXVzZSBhdCBsZWFzdCBzb21lIGluZm9ybWF0aW9uIGlzIFxwYXIN
Cj4gYXZhbGlhYmxlIGluXHBhcg0KPiB0aGUgQkIgIGhlbHAuXHBhcg0KXHBhcg0KVGhlIG9ubGlu
ZSBtYW51YWwgd2FzIG5vdCBpbnRlbmRlZCB0byBiZSBnZW5lcmFsIGRvY3VtZW50YXRpb24gZm9y
XHBhcg0KQmxhY2tCb3guIEl0IHdhcyBkZXZlbG9wZWQgdG8gdGVhY2ggYmVnaW5uaW5nIHByb2dy
YW1tZXJzIGluIGEgZmlyc3QtXHBhcg0KeWVhciBpbnRyb2R1Y3RvcnkgcHJvZ3JhbW1pbmcgY291
cnNlLiAoSXQgaXMgbm93IGF2YWlsYWJsZSBhcyBhIFxwYXINCnBhcGVyYmFja1xwYXINCmJvb2sg
ZnJvbSBWaWV3ZWcuKSBUaGUgcXVvdGUgYWJvdXQgdGhlIEkvTyBiZWluZyBjb25mdXNpbmcgaXMg
XHBhcg0Kc3BlY2lmaWNhbGx5XHBhcg0KcmVmZXJyaW5nIHRvIGJlZ2lubmVycyBhbmQgYXBwbGll
cyBtYWlubHkgdG8gdGhlIHBhcnNlciwgd2hpY2ggYXBwZWFycyBccGFyDQp0b1xwYXINCmJlIGdl
YXJlZCB0byBwYXJzaW5nIHRva2VucyBmb3IgdGhlIGNvbXBpbGVyLlxwYXINClxwYXINCk9uZSBv
ZiB0aGUgZ3JlYXRlc3Qgc3RyZW5ndGhzIG9mIHRoZSBzeXN0ZW0gaXMgdGhhdCBpdCBpcyBleHRl
bnNpYmxlLiBJIFxwYXINCndhc1xwYXINCmFibGUgdG8gZXh0ZW5kIGl0IHRvIGZpdCBteSBuZWVk
LCB3aGljaCBpcyB0ZWFjaGluZyBiZWdpbm5lcnMgdGhlIFxwYXINCmZ1bmRhbWVudGFsc1xwYXIN
Cm9mIGNvbXB1dGluZy5ccGFyDQpccGFyDQo+IFNvIEkgdXNlZCBNeVNRTCBmb3IgYWxsIG15IGZp
bGUgaGFuZGxpbmcgdW5kZXIgQkIuXHBhcg0KXHBhcg0KQnV0IHRoYXQgaXMgcHJlY2lzZWx5IHdo
YXQgbWFrZXMgdGhlIHN5c3RlbSBhIGdvb2Qgb25lLiBZb3UgY2FuIGV4dGVuZCBccGFyDQppdFxw
YXINCmFzIHlvdSBsaWtlLiBUaGUgT2Jlcm9uIG1pY3Jvc3lzdGVtcyB0ZWFtIGlzIHNlbnNpdGl2
ZSB0byBiYWNrd2FyZFxwYXINCmNvbXBhdGliaWxpdHkuIEkgd2FzIGNvbmNlcm5lZCB3aGVuIEkg
Zmlyc3QgYWRvcHRlZCBCQiBhYm91dCB0aGUgXHBhcg0Kc3RhYmlsaXR5XHBhcg0Kb2YgdGhlIHN5
c3RlbSBvdmVyIHRpbWUsIGJ1dCB0aGF0IGhhcyBwcm92ZWQgdG8gbm90IGJlIGEgcHJvYmxlbS4g
SSBjYW4gXHBhcg0KZXZlblxwYXINCnJ1biB0aGUgTWFjIHZlcnNpb24gKDEuMy4yIGJldGEpIHVu
ZGVyIE9TIFggY2xhc3NpYyBxdWl0ZSB3ZWxsIGZvciBteSBccGFyDQpjbGFzcyxccGFyDQphbmQg
ZXZlbiBoYXZlIGFuIGFwcGxpY2F0aW9uIHRoYXQgSSBkaXN0cmlidXRlIHRoYXQgd2F5LlxwYXIN
ClxwYXINCkkgZG8gYWdyZWUgd2l0aCB5b3UsIGhvd2V2ZXIsIHRoYXQgdGhlIEJCIG5lZWRzIG1v
cmUgb2YgYW4gXHBhcg0KaW5mcmFzdHJ1Y3R1cmUuIElccGFyDQp3b3VsZCBsaWtlIHRvIHNlZSBh
biBleHRlbnNpYmxlIGdyYXBoaWNzIGVkaXRvciBhbmQgYSBzdGFuZGFyZCBmb3IgXHBhcg0KaGFu
ZGxpbmdccGFyDQpzb3VuZC5ccGFyDQpccGFyDQpBbmQgSSBhbHNvIHRoaW5rIGJldHRlciBkb2N1
bWVudGF0aW9uIG9uIHZpZXcgcHJvZ3JhbW1pbmcgd291bGQgYmVccGFyDQpoZWxwZnVsLiBJIGhh
dmUgc29tZSBpZGVhcyBmb3IgdGhhdC4gVGhlIHRoaW5nIHRvIGRvIGlzIHRvIGNvbnRyaWJ1dGUg
XHBhcg0Kd2hhdFxwYXINCnlvdSBoYXZlIHRvIHRoZSBjb21tdW5pdHkgc28gd2UgY2FuIGFsbCBi
ZW5lZml0IGZyb20gaXQuIE15IFBib3ggcHJvamVjdFxwYXINCmZvciBlYXN5IHRleHQgSS9PIGlz
IGF2YWlsYWJsZSBvbmxpbmUuIFBlcmhhcHMgb3RoZXJzIHdvdWxkIGJlIFxwYXINCmludGVyZXN0
ZWQgaW5ccGFyDQp5b3VyIE15U1FMIG1vZHVsZS5ccGFyDQpccGFyDQpKLiBTdGFubGV5IFdhcmZv
cmRccGFyDQpQcm9mZXNzb3Igb2YgQ29tcHV0ZXIgU2NpZW5jZVxwYXINClBlcHBlcmRpbmUgVW5p
dmVyc2l0eVxwYXINCk1hbGlidSwgQ0EgOTAyNjNccGFyDQpTdGFuLldhcmZvcmRAcGVwcGVyZGlu
ZS5lZHVccGFyDQozMTAtNTA2LTQzMzJccGFyDQpccGFyDQotLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0t
LS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLVxwYXINClxwYXINClRvIHVuc3Vic2NyaWJlIGZyb20gdGhp
cyBtYWlsaW5nIGxpc3QsIHNlbmQgYSBtZXNzYWdlIGNvbnRhaW5pbmcgdGhlIHdvcmQgInVuc3Vi
c2NyaWJlIiB0bzpccGFyDQogICBibGFja2JveC1yZXF1ZXN0QG9iZXJvbi5jaFxwYXINClxwYXIN
ClRvIGdldCBhIGxpc3Qgb2YgdmFsaWQgZS1tYWlsIGNvbW1hbmRzIGFuZCBpbnN0cnVjdGlvbnMg
b24gdGhlaXIgdXNhZ2UsIHNlbmQgYSBtZXNzYWdlIGNvbnRhaW5pbmcgdGhlIHdvcmQgImhlbHAi
IHRvIHRoZSBhYm92ZSBhZGRyZXNzLlxwYXINClxwYXINClNlbmQgYW55IHByb2JsZW0gcmVwb3J0
cyBvciBxdWVzdGlvbnMgcmVsYXRlZCB0byB0aGlzIGVtYWlsIGxpc3QgdG8gdGhlIGxpc3Qgb3du
ZXIgYXRccGFyDQogICBvd25lci1ibGFja2JveEBvYmVyb24uY2hccGFyDQpccGFyDQpDdXJyZW50
IHBvc3RpbmcgcG9saWN5OlxwYXINClxwYXINCmEpIFRvIHBvc3QgeW91IHNob3VsZCB1c2UgdGhl
IHNhbWUgYWRkcmVzcyBieSB3aGljaCB5b3UgYXJlIHN1YnNjcmliZWQgdG8gdGhlIG1haWxpbmcg
bGlzdC4gVGhhdCB3YXksIHRoZSBsaXN0IHNlcnZlciB3aWxsIHJlY29nbml6ZSB5b3UgYXMgc3Vi
c2NyaWJlciBhbmQgZm9yd2FyZCB5b3VyIHBvc3RpbmcgaW1tZWRpYXRlbHksIHdpdGhvdXQgY3Jl
YXRpbmcgYW55IG92ZXJoZWFkLlxwYXINClxwYXINCmIpIElmLCBmb3Igc29tZSByZWFzb24sIHlv
dSBjYW5ub3QgcG9zdCBmcm9tIHRoZSBhZGRyZXNzLCBieSB3aGljaCB5b3UgYXJlIHN1YnNjcmli
ZWQsIHlvdXIgbWVzc2FnZSB3aWxsIGJlIG1vZGVyYXRlZCB0byBhdm9pZCBzcGFtLiBQbGVhc2Ug
dW5kZXJzdGFuZCB0aGF0IG1vZGVyYXRpb24gd2lsbCBvZnRlbiBjYXVzZSBzb21lIGRlbGF5LCBp
biBwYXJ0aWN1bGFyIG92ZXIgd2Vla2VuZHMgb3IgaG9seWRheXMuXHBhcg0KfQ==
----boundary-LibPST-iamunique-1337189611_-_---
Received on Mon Feb 10 2003 - 08:45:21 UTC