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Programmers doesn't use text-based programming language because it gives them elite feeling. They use it because it is the currently best tool possible. - It's
by joesb 9y ago
Programmers doesn't use text-based programming language because it gives them elite feeling. They use it because it is the currently best tool possible.
- It's concise, clear and unambiguous.
- It's easily extensible. `def foo() ...` is all you need to define new word. What do you need to do to define new block in WYSIWYG that is still meaningful to the user?
- It can be diff and search. Can you meaningfully diff visual graphic? And then merge it automatically?
- It's stable. Do you think source code in WYSIWYG today will be usable in the editor 5 years from now?
Typing "cryptic text" is the easiest part in programming. "Thinking clearly" is the most important part, and most people are not specifying clear instruction to be made into program. It has nothing to do with programmer's identity crisis.
- majewsky 9y agoAlso, text editors are aplenty and every programmer can choose the editor they like best. With a WYSIWYG editor, you're likely locked into using that particular editor and all its design decisions. Also, when you're designing a text-based programming language, you can focus on the compiler, and users of your language can just use their existing text editor. When you're designing a language with a WYSIWYG editor, you just put the burden on yourself of also implementing that editor. Potentially on many different platforms, if you want to reach a wide audience.
- ilaksh 9y agoThings like tables and mathematical notation would make programming more elegant, but even going this far is rare.
- joesb 9y agoSimilarly, the hard part of Mathematics is the math itself. It's not because we don't have WYSIWYG math equation editor, that people can't understand advance calculus.