On 5/21/06, Isaac Raway <isaac@...> wrote:
> This is all really too bad...
>
> But I have to just get something out because it's been bothering me
> for a long time...when I first heard of this project and tried to get
> involved, it all just seemed far too complicated. Focused a bit too
> much on theory and parsers and nonsense, instead of making a
> working package.
>
> A committed group of 5 people could have a working HyperCard
> clone in 7 working days. I know because in just a bit more time
> (maybe 3 weeks) I created a functional one on my own. The only
> thing it lacked was an xTalk but that isn't as critical as the
> environment (linking dialogs & simplified scripting UIs can provide
> the same benefits as xTalk but are easier to code).

I agree with you that without an xTalk, it wouldn't take too long to
create a HyperCard clone. I very much doubt it could be created in a
week, though. However, an xTalk is essential to a HyperCard clone;
it's what makes it different from Visual Basic, RealBasic, Interface
Builder, Revolution, etc. The xTalk is at least as critical as the
environment.

Also, you underestimate how complicated it is to parse HyperTalk, just
like we did before we started. As an example, this is completely valid
syntax:

add char word to char of word char of char to word word to char of
line char of cd fld word

You cannot make the parser simple and compatible with HyperTalk at the
same time. This was the big road block Tyler and I ran into.

--
Hasta la pasta,
Jonathynne Bett'ncort.
------------------------------------------------------------
I tried the real world once; didn't really care for it.

"I could counter with the fact that a disproportionate number of TG
women I know are computer programmers. ::grin:: In fact, there's a
joke going around that says exposure to computer screens causes
transsexuality." -- Kate Bornstein