From: Joel VanderWerf <vjoel@...>
Date: 2006-09-26T04:41:20+09:00
Subject: Re: Please define these terms

Paul Lutus wrote:
> Trans wrote:
> 
> / ...
> 
>> Toolkit: GUI Library
> 
> That's a limited definition. YAML is a toolkit, as is REXML. The GUI angle
> may or may not be present. I would have defined it as a set of carefully
> designed algorithms with wide applicability.
> 
>> Framework
>>   Program providing support structure in which another program can be
>> organized and developed.
> 
> Too limiting. A framework can also be a class or module definition that ties
> otherwise disparate elements together, or enforces rules in a beneficial
> way. And classes are not programs, because they don't necessarily have a
> standalone executable identity (how a program is defined).
> 

I would say that the distinguishing feature of a Framework is that it 
has an overall structure, such as an event loop, which calls back into 
the code developed on top of the framework. A GUI library would 
typically fit this pattern.

-- 
       vjoel : Joel VanderWerf : path berkeley edu : 510 665 3407