Note: a tool is evaluated by its use: its fit to the task and the user

Quotation

A tool is evaluated by its use -- the fit to the task and its fit with the user. For example, a knife is evaluated by its sharpness, its ability to hold an edge, and its balance. For a programming system the goals are size + speed + cycle time + understandability. Interpreters are small with a fast cycle time and better understandability. Compilers are fast, big, slow cycle time, and harder to understand. Natural language is very understandable and very slow (manual compilation). Assemblers are very fast and small with a very slow cycle time and hard to understand. Vivid huge numbers combines natural language with assemblers.
1/27/97   Google-1   Google-2

personal notes

Additional Titles

Note: the goals of a programming system are size, speed, cycle time, and understandability

Note: vivid huge numbers combine the advantages of natural language with those of assembly code

Related Topics

Topic: tools (20 items)
Group: goals for a programming system   (21 topics, 971 quotes)
Topic: vivid representation of programs (22 items)
Group: Thesa programming system   (11 topics, 561 quotes)
Topic: software portability (43 items)