Apart from being another appalling neologism, a bookmarklet is a clever and simple way of using Javascript to add macro functionality to your web browser. (more…)
When learning computer programming it can be difficult to separate general programming principles from the specific details of one particular language. In some languages the underlying general principles of programming may remain obscured by the sheer volume of information needed just to make a program work. General principles may not emerge until the new programmer has learned two or three other languages.
This article illustrates eight basic programming concepts with examples in five programming languages - Java, Perl, Python, REBOL, and Scheme - which will allow the reader to make comparisons and generalisations. Part one addresses the first five ideas: output, variables, expressions, input, and selection. Part two covers lists, subroutines, and repetition. (more…)
In the previous episodes we made increasingly sophisticated square-making programs. In this final episode we will leave boring squares behind and make a star shape. (more…)
Welcome to part three of Programming with Karel. In this episode we are going to start controlling more than one robot and have a look at how robot names work. But first I’ll make a comment. (more…)
Teaching a young robot new tricks
In the previous article, I left readers with the task of modifying the example program to make the robot close the L-shape into a square, as shown here:
Fig. 1 - karel turning an L into a square
To follow along with my Karel J Robot programming exercises, you will need four things (more…)
Computer programming is an absorbing and challenging hobby and a valuable occupational skill. It helps develop many useful intellectual abilities, including analytical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. But most importantly, computer programming is fun.
Welcome to the first in a series of articles intended for people with a moderate level of computer experience but little or no knowledge of programming. Let’s say you know what files and folders are, you can use a word processor, you don’t need detailed instructions on how to install software, and if I say “Run Program X” you’ve got a pretty good idea where Program X is and how to get it going. That’s all you need - no expertise required. (more…)
The World Wide Reb is the tongue-in-cheek name given to the network of distributed REBOL applications accessible from the REBOL/View desktop - more formally it is known as the REBOL Distributed Desktop. Once you’ve setup a rebsite you can add it to distributed desktop and make it available to all REBOL/View users.
The REBOL folks reckon that setting up a rebsite is easier than setting up an ordinary HTML web page. Let’s put that claim to the test. (more…)
If you browse around the web or newsgroups long enough, especially on computer-related topics, you may soon get the impression that practically everything is “… Considered Harmful”. These two words crop up again and again. If “… Considered Harmful” appears in the subject line of a posting to a newsgroup or mailing list you know you’re in for a one-eyed diatribe. (more…)
In my overview of REBOL, I skimmed across the capabilities of the REBOL/Core package. In this article I will give you a quick tour of the graphical version: REBOL/View. (more…)
REBOL. I first heard of this new programming language several years ago. The name sent shudders down my spine - was it the “REturn of coBOL”? Visions of endless pages of data declarations crawled out of a dark place in my memory and I moved on to another web site while I still had the will to live.
What a shame - I should have had a closer look, because I couldn’t have been more wrong. I don’t know if REBOL (the purists insist it’s pronounced “reb-el”, but I just can’t seem to get past “re-bol”) is ever going to set the programming world on fire, but it is easy to learn, surprisingly powerful and a lot of fun to code. (more…)
Peopleware: Productive projects and teams is an essential manual for management of IT projects. In a light and entertaining style the authors outline what’s wrong and what’s right with modern software development projects. They also offer practical solutions and advice. (more…)