(2003-12-17) Data Driven Contra Oop

Simon Willison and Kimbro Staken rip apart an OOP example arguing for greater simplicity and Data Driven programming.

Dec31 Uche Ogbuji slams Kimbro's XML approach, suggesting a Python dictionary. Plus frames a "D4" approach as Dynamic, Declarative, and Data Driven.

Jan3 Kimbro Staken responds saying that he wanted to consider an approach that pulled the data out of the language because Languages are just tools. Data, however, is different. It has a permanence that exceeds the bounds of a particular programming language and to me placing data within the syntax of a particular programming language is not necessarily a good thing. Like Uche, I believe that Dynamic Language-s are the way forward, however I also believe that we need to weaken the coupling between a particular language and the actual solution to a problem to whatever degree we can.