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Re: Conventional way of doing "struct"-like things?

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg104605] Re: Conventional way of doing "struct"-like things?
• From: Erik Max Francis <max at alcyone.com>
• Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 01:41:20 -0500 (EST)
• References: <4047035.1257118894351.JavaMail.root@n11> <hconrj$1ll$1@smc.vnet.net>

David Park wrote:
> I would prefer your second method because it seems more natural and is just
> a mnemonic shortcut for Part. Such simple definitions can be quite useful.
> The method is also easily extended to more complex structures with sub-lists
> or even conditional sub-lists.
> 
> As far as general Mathematica style is concerned you seem pretty savvy as it
> is. You will probably get many suggestions so I'll throw in my two cents and
> hope it doesn't too much conflict with the experts.
> 
> 1) Prefer functional programming to procedural programming.
> 
> 2) Localize variables in function definitions, With or Module statements.
> Avoid setting Global values for simple symbols like x.
> 
> 3) Keep things symbolic as long as possible.
> 
> 4) You seem to come from a programming background. Just to nudge in a
> different direction I would say don't think of Mathematica so much as a
> programming language. Think of it as a piece of paper on which you are
> writing and developing your ideas. Learn how to use sectional grouping and
> text cells to provide discussion.
> 
> 5) Build up generated knowledge. Write usage statements. Put developed
> routines in a Routines section at the top of your notebook. Maybe you can
> eventually transfer them from package purgatory to a real package.

Thanks for the ideas.  In fact, I'd been doing pretty much all of these 
as it was ... :-).

-- 
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