Post
by Anzwertree » Fri Apr 29, 2011 1:19 am
Thanks a lot, bro! LiveCode is super fun. I'm just glad I know a few other languages or I'd of been stuck here for awhile. Back when I first started programming, I always wondered how different languages could come together for a project, or what programmers meant by "only knowing one language," is not enough to be productive. I never really understood that at first. Now, almost 10 years later, it all makes perfect sense. Last night I borrowed my friend's GPS receiver. It took me about half an hour to write a custom Python script for extracting the data I needed and then putting it into a SQLite database file. That same file can be used with my LiveCode programs because LiveCode comes built in with database support. If I wanted to share my program, I would need to include the script I wrote with Python (which could be compiled into an executable for Mac or Windows). Then it is simply a matter of programming your LiveCode application to launch the resource file you created. The SQLite database could be modified this way each time, seemingly transparent. To the end user, it only appears they are using one program, when in reality they are using at least two -- the LiveCode application and the python script. At any point when something may or may not be supported by LiveCode, there are other languages that might be able to help. In this case, it worked out perfect. I didn't have to track down the functionality for LiveCode. I already knew how to do it with Python. But it was actually SQLite that made it possible, because LiveCode comes built in with SQLite support. LiveCode might be able to do it, but unfortunately, LiveCode suffers a little with documentation.
There are some good tutorials, but there are no real structured paths for beginners to take. You're sort of lost in a sea of scattered documentation. That's not too uncommon, though. It just doesn't help when you are looking for something very specific. You pretty much have to read through everything RunRev has provided and figure out how to use the information on your own. That's not so bad for me because I've been programming awhile. Someone completely new to programming would have a deep learning curve here, however. And that's unfortunate because LiveCode really is easier than anything else. The difference is that the more complicated languages out there have much, much better documentation than LiveCode at the moment. That is perhaps my biggest criticism thus far.
The LiveCode scripting language is pretty much a mystery to any new person, and there's really no good thorough introduction to it anywhere that I've found. You just have to do it the very boring way. Read the very well documented dictionary. Yes, they did a great job documenting their dictionary. Much better than some other more complicated languages. Unfortunately, reading a dictionary is a really slow and extremely boring way to learn a new language. I've done it before, it just takes a long, long time through trial and error. I think LiveCode could be much more successful if there was an actual textbook for the LiveCode scripting language. RunRev shouldn't just expect people to read an old version of some book that the LiveCode scripting language was based on. A new book should be written for this generation and specific to LiveCode. The included User Guide is not what I'm talking about.