6 Apr
2009
6 Apr
'09
9:33 p.m.
On 6 Apr 2009 at 15:12, Paul Koning wrote:
On the other hand, given good literature (which is
readily available)
any competent programmer can create the implementation. Age isn't the
issue. It may be strange to see polyphase sort in C# or Java, but
what the heck... :-)
But there's the "art" aspect.
Anyone can paint by numbers or use a cookbook or program an algorithm
given in a textbook. That doesn't make one a painter or a chef or a
programmer-artist (I don't have a better word).
I'm inclined to think that Knuth intended that expressive facility
when he titlled his series "The Art of Programming", not "How to
Program". But I wouldn't presume to put words in his mouth.
Besides, I learned my sorting from the Flores book. :)
--Chuck