Re: Heatbug questions...

[Paul Johnson]

On Mon, 28 Jul 1997 address@hidden wrote:

> 
> I was refering more to how Objects/methods/generic methods/generic
> objects are coded. That is, someone not understanding the way the code
> works could look at a given code snipet and say "oh, X is an object, Y
> is a method...", just on how they are coded...(ie. createBegin, with a
> small "c").  But, what is "create" or "class"?  Are they ObjectiveC
> methods?  And whats the difference between "HeatbugModelSwarm" and
> "heatbugModelSwarm"...is the first one a type? and the second a
> Swarm/Object/Instance?  
> 
> So, when I asked about programing "style" I was referring more to "How"
> one actually "writes" the code, not how one creates object oriented
> programs.  

As a new user, I agree that it is very confusing.  The objective C book
from Next spells out some conventions, as does the swarm "Hello-World"
and "tutorial".  You will notice certain conventions, such as capital
letters are Class names, but small letters are object names.  I agree
very much with your observation that it is confusing that the code has
swarmObject and SwarmObject floating around.  The SFI folk say it was
a conscious decision to use that style, and once we get used to it, we
will love it.  

At the present state of documentation, it seems to me that a new user has
to go into the /src subdirectories and look at the object classes and
methods created.  I've spend a while making a diagram of objects, how they
inherit from one another.  Looking at header files, you start to get ideas
about a general pattern in object creation.  For example, create,
createBegin, and createEnd are SFI methods, which replace the standard
object creation jargon from Next or GCC. 

I still wish there was a "programming guide for beginners" and wish you
would write one after you have mastered Swarm.  I'm only saying that
because several list members said that to me when I made the same kind
of statement you have made.

I'll look around for a  few emails and send them along. If I can find
them.

Paul E. Johnson                           address@hidden
Dept. of Political Science                Office: (913) 864-9086
University of Kansas                      FAX: (913) 864-5700
Lawrence, Kansas 66045                    Home: (913) 842-9916                  
   


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