From: Chris Pine <cpine@...>
Date: 2004-09-30T23:53:45+09:00
Subject: Re: Too Many Ways?

On Thu, 30 Sep 2004 23:30:02 +0900, gabriele renzi wrote:
>�Chris Pine ha scritto:
>
>�<snipall>
>�I strongly agree with your view. Actually, I think when you teach
>�#proc to a functional programmer you just say them 'it is just to
>�declare a lambda', and when you teach #map to a SmalTalker you say
>�them "it's just �like #collect ". �I think it's a good way but it's
>�just my opinion :)

My point was that if I am teaching Ruby to a functional programmer, I don't teach them proc at all, and they already know what lambda means, so no problem.  Similiarly, I wouldn't teach map to a Smalltalker.

Of course, later on, when they are fairly confident with Ruby (and no longer nubys), then I would say exactly what you said:  proc is just like lambda (well, except that I guess it isn't), and map is just like collect.

To clarify, I have no problem with aliasing at all.  In fact, I even kind of like it, precisely because it makes teaching *easier* (based on where a person is coming from).  Of course, they have to learn it all to really learn Ruby; I'm just arguing about the order things ought to be taught in.  Why confuse a fp'er with proc when they already get lambda?  Move on to other things, get them hooked on Ruby, *then* mention TMTOWTDI later.

Chris