LiveCode Forums.

I wonder if there is a way to refer to INKs by using numbers rather than
those seemingly whacked-out names such as blendSrc and blendBurn?

Possibly transfer modes?

How would numbers provide more mnemonic value?

How would numbers provide more mnemonic value?

They wouldn't; but that is not the point of my question.

I have no objection what-so-ever to people using those whacked-out
names should they choose to.

If, however, one could refer to them with numbers as well, it might prove
useful in certain situations.

They seem almost equally forgettable to me, but perhaps the current constants a bit better, since their names are at least consistent with some OS (and perhaps Skia) graphics correlaries. And once in a while they're even consistent with the bitwise operators in LC (well, XOR, maybe others).

Under what circumstances would a number be better?

A number might be better if one wanted to cycle through all the modes
automatically.

http://ssp.impulsetrain.com/porterduff.html

A number might be better if one wanted to cycle through all the modes
automatically.

you could put all the modes in an array and cycle through the array...

Regards,

Thierry

richmond62 wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 25, 2019 10:29 am

A number might be better if one wanted to cycle through all the modes
automatically.

http://ssp.impulsetrain.com/porterduff.html

How often does anyone do that LiveCode?

I'm with Terry on this. Clumsy as the names are, they refer to the underlying well-known algorithms. Those classic names rarely have mnemonic value to lay people, but even if known by only a few it's more than the zero who would come to LC with knowledge of an arbitrary integer sequence.

And if someone did need to step through them, as Terry notes we walk through string lists all the time, easily solvable with what we have in hand right now.

One year later, I believe there is no point in starting to refer to INK's by using numbers. Yes, using whacked-out names such as blendSrc and blendBurn might not be the best thing, but as long as there was no direct negative consequence to using these names, I think we should keep them. Numbers are involved in every activity one can be involved in, so if you feel the need to use numbers, there are plenty of activities and fields where you can involve numbers.

How did you find this ancient thread, Maverick90?