On Fri, 2005-10-07 at 10:27 +0100, Dave Griffiths wrote:
> I think there are two points really which are both highly debatable:
>
> 1. programming makes computer artists more productive
> 2. free software makes programmers more productive
>
> The first one is the interesting one, and is on topic for a list about
> live coding :) the second one is rather boring and off topic.
Agreed, but I think the first point needs some work. We should make
clear that we're talking about computer artists programming themselves,
rather than paying someone else to do so, indirectly or otherwise;
"Computer artists who program their work are more productive."
Is "productive" really the right word though? It suggests that they
produce a lot of work, but doesn't say anything about the quality of
work. So how about something like:
"Computer artists who program their work produce better work, more
quickly."
As we've acknowledged before, 'programming' is also ambiguous. You
program a sequencer and an alarm clock for example. So perhaps we
should be more specific. TOPLAP are interested in interactive
programming, and mostly using imperative languages.
"Computer artists can produce better work more quickly through
programming with imperative and functional languages."
However, that doesn't include MAX/MSP or PD, and I'm not sure how to
refer to them properly, the best I can do is 'modular':
"Computer artists can produce better work, more quickly through the
use of programming languages, particularly imperative languages such as
SuperCollider, ChucK, Java, BASIC, C/C++ and Perl, functional languages
such as lisp and scheme, and modular languages such as MAX and Pure
Data."
Of course as TOPLAP we'd want to add something about live programming,
perhaps with the word 'interactive':
"Computer artists can produce better work, more quickly through the
interactive use of programming languages, particularly imperative
languages such as SuperCollider, ChucK, Java, BASIC, C/C++ and Perl,
functional languages such as lisp and scheme, and modular languages such
as MAX and Pure Data."
Now it sounds like a marketing soundbite. Perhaps if we improved it
further it could form part of a revised TOPLAP manifesto?
alex
Received on Sun Oct 09 2005 - 10:28:55 BST