The Case for Perspicuous Programming

Holmes, Neville (2003) The Case for Perspicuous Programming. Computer, 36 (4). 104, 102-103. ISSN 0018-9162

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/MC.2003.1193236

Abstract

This essay examines the nature of programs, classifies the traditional or enigmatic styles of programming, distinguishing template, prose and literate styles; notes the contrast between batch programs and interactive programs; and highlights the advantages of giving priority in developing interactive programs to the online documentation, and proposes that this documentation should be the principal target of development, with the executable program code being regarded of secondary and consequent.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	A more formal version of this essay was published as essay 5.4 in the author's book "Computers and People" (Wiley, 2006). This material is presented to ensure timely dissemination of scholarly and technical work. Copyright and all rights therein are retained by authors or by other copyright holders. All persons copying this information are expected to adhere to the terms and constraints invoked by each author's copyright. In most cases, these works may not be reposted without the explicit permission of the copyright holder. Copyright 2003 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or to reuse any copyrighted component of this work in other works must be obtained from the IEEE.
Keywords:	enigmatic programming, template programming, prose programming, literate programming, perspicuous programming, documentation
Subjects:	280000 Information, Computing and Communication Sciences > 280300 Computer Software > 280304 Operating Systems 280000 Information, Computing and Communication Sciences > 280300 Computer Software > 280303 Programming Languages 280000 Information, Computing and Communication Sciences > 280300 Computer Software > 280301 Programming Techniques
ID Code:	1528
Deposited By:	Mr Neville Holmes
Deposited On:	07 Aug 2007
Last Modified:	09 Jan 2008 02:30
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