Collaborative articulation of how abstraction and language is employed in the computational manifestation of numbers -- including analysis of the role of syntax, semantics, and meaning in the specification and use of software interfaces.
astraendo - Exploring Abstraction. The decks are now cleared for the Numbering Peano discussion project. Let collaborative blogging begin.
We are going to demonstrate, with a completed software project, how little meaning there is in computer programs and how much of what is valuable about software is not found in the software itself. We're using this technique as an avenue to communal articulation of something that matters.
Levels of Conversation. The exploration is directed toward three areas
Interface (API) Agreement. We'll start out illustrating a simple interface agreement using Java Language Object-Oriented Technology. It will be annotated and comprehensible enough to anyone. I promise. This is the middle(ware) layer. From here we can look underneath the interface to see how one delivers software that honors the agreement. We can also look upward to see what the agreement is when viewed from the outside, with no consideration for the implementation in the underware.
Application Semantics and Situated Use. This is the higher level, the outerware and beyond. We will look further at how the interface is used and how it is known what the guaranteed behavior--the contract--is. Beyond that, we want to account for what an use could be for. We want to see where a higher-level abstraction is not just more-abstracted, it is of a different kind.
Computer Implementations. We're going to build software that delivers the interface. This is the underware layer. We'll talk about the implementation a little, and show its use. We won't build it here. The development of the software will happen in a separate place organized for that purpose. There we can dig into all of the geeky details with complete abandon. It will be interesting to see how much detail there is, and we'll offer observations about that from time to time.
Materials. The materials produced for and in this discussion consist of
Numbering Peano, this web log and its archives, along with an Atom feed that provides syndication access to complete entries
Fragmentary now, the material will be expanded and refined as the discussion progresses.
Participation. Who is this discussion for? Who are the players?
Initial Team Members are orcmid and anderbill. Others can join. Send an e-mail request to orcmid.
Anyone can comment. References to other material, especially articles and discussions available on the web, are welcome.
Disagreement is tolerated. There is a theme here, and objections to it are all right. Errors in expressing what we intended to say will be corrected. We may not change course just because you think we should. Be happy that we get what your objection is. Repeating it loudly is not productive.
Change is the Constant. Associated materials are updated early and often. Blog entries are also updated as part of webbing it all together. If you subscribe to the feed, this means you will see full re-issues of pages from time to time. We'll work to minimize that, and it will happen.
Listening to:
Eros RamazzottiEstilolibre, BMG (2000), Interactive CD via Media Player 9 Bonnie RaittLuck of the Draw, CD, Capitol Records (1999) Diana Krall "Narrow Daylight" from The Girl in the Other Room, performed live in Lisbon, MSN Windows Media Exclusive Radio L'Olgiata.Net via Windows Media Player 9: Luca Carboni "Mi ami davvero"; Laura Pausini "E ritorno da te"; Tiziano Ferro "Xdono"; Velvet "Boy Band"; Giorgia "Di sole e d'azzuro"; Laura Pausini "Tra te e il mare"; Gina Paoli "Per una storia (d'amore)"; Pooh "Stai con me"; Pino Daniele "Sara"; Eros Ramazzotti & Cher "Più che puoi"; Eros Ramazzotti "Fuoco nel fuoco"; Matia Bazar "Questa nostra grande storia d'amore"; Michele Zarrillo "L'acrobata"; Renato Zero "Non cancellate il mio mondo"; Anna Tatangelo "Doppiamente fragili"
2004-06-05-14:04: I have been procrastinating this note for two days. It's time to quiet the inner dork and post something. Anything. I'm now publicly on-the-hook for this.
