4 ms·

In programming, pragmatism always beats dogma. The blog post to which this link responds was particularly venomous and unsubstantive, and is easily dismissed w

In programming, pragmatism always beats dogma. The blog post to which this link responds was particularly venomous and unsubstantive, and is easily dismissed when you apply a modicum of reason. I'm a little surprised that rant even earned a response. Are current web frameworks perfect? No. Are we all in complete agreement about how to improve them? No. Ok, with that out of the way, lets keep this in mind during our collective disagreements: http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/upload/2009/08/weekend_diversion_how_to_argue/disagreement-hierarchy.jpg http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/upload/2009/08/weeke...

dextorious 15y ago
"""In programming, pragmatism always beats dogma.""" Yes, but also computer science theory --which is mostly infallible domain specific mathematics--, always beats idiotic industry practices and ignorant dismissal of theory. Pragmatism is: "2 + 2.0000000000001 = 4, for my purposes". It's not: "2 + 2 = 5, theoretical dogma be damned"
- navyrain 15y ago
  Of course, there are do exist hard laws in computer science; this is not in dispute. However, web programming is inherently not a ivory-tower mathematic art, as the objectives of the web programmer are different than those of computer science researcher. The researcher will prioritize scientific rigor, and the web programmer will prioritize practical use of resources during their implementation.
  - dextorious 15y ago
    """The researcher will prioritize scientific rigor, and the web programmer will prioritize practical use of resources during their implementation.""" Yes, but in the end, you can't escape theory, you have to know it, even if less rigorously and systematically. Consider the example of the web programmer that stores monetary transactions as floats in some db, blissfully unaware of the issues. Hilarity (or huge lawsuits) ensues...

dextorious 15y ago

"""In programming, pragmatism always beats dogma.""" Yes, but also computer science theory --which is mostly infallible domain specific mathematics--, always beats idiotic industry practices and ignorant dismissal of theory. Pragmatism is: "2 + 2.0000000000001 = 4, for my purposes". It's not: "2 + 2 = 5, theoretical dogma be damned"

navyrain 15y ago
Of course, there are do exist hard laws in computer science; this is not in dispute. However, web programming is inherently not a ivory-tower mathematic art, as the objectives of the web programmer are different than those of computer science researcher. The researcher will prioritize scientific rigor, and the web programmer will prioritize practical use of resources during their implementation.
- dextorious 15y ago
  """The researcher will prioritize scientific rigor, and the web programmer will prioritize practical use of resources during their implementation.""" Yes, but in the end, you can't escape theory, you have to know it, even if less rigorously and systematically. Consider the example of the web programmer that stores monetary transactions as floats in some db, blissfully unaware of the issues. Hilarity (or huge lawsuits) ensues...