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From: ForthNet@willett.pgh.pa.us (ForthNet articles from GEnie)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.forth
Subject: PYGMY Forth
Message-ID: <2488.UUL1.3#5129@willett.pgh.pa.us>
Date: 12 Mar 91 03:22:04 GMT
Organization: (n.) to be organized.  But that's not important right now.
Lines: 47

Category 1,  Topic 45
Message 77        Mon Mar 11, 1991
F.SERGEANT [Frank]           at 02:14 CST
 
 This is a reply to Henry Vinerts's open letter (uploaded as file 
PYGMYLTR.TXT in library 7) to me.
 .
 Thanks for your kind words.  It sounds like you are successfully on  the path
toward learning Forth.  I didn't see anything in your letter  that I was sure
was a direct question to me.  If I over looked any such  questions, please
post them again.  If you are attending the SVFIG  meetings, I think you have
unlimited expertise available to assist you.
 .
 In addition, questions etc. may always be posted in this topic.  If  you feel
a question is too stupid to post publicly you can always email  it to me,
although, considering all the traffic I've seen on the BBS  over the years, I
don't think you should worry about anything you post  publicly.
 .
 I have been hoping to put together a few "skeleton" applications, such  that
a beginner could get started right away just by fleshing them out  or
customizing them.  I haven't done it yet, but still have hopes.
 .
 It might be harder to learn Forth in the abstract than to learn it by 
picking a specific project and doing it in Forth.  So, figure out what  you
need the computer to do for you and then use Forth to make the  computer do
it.  (Start small.)
 .
 I am interested in how a newcomer to Pygmy reacts.  I've felt that a 
software package needs to let the user feel oriented and in-charge as  quickly
as possible.  He can feel oriented and confident in proceeding  long before
all details are memorized or mastered.  At some point,  things click
(hopefully).  Then he knows how to find out any of the  details he needs to
know.  He is no longer "completely lost."  I think  (1) feedback and (2) a
proper "mental model" are important to this  feeling of orientation.  If you
were driving a car and couldn't find  out whether you'd steered, accelerated,
and braked correctly until the  end of the trip (which could occur when you
arrive at your planned  destination, or when you are dead or in a ditch) ...
well, that's what  I mean by feedback! -- it needs to be rapid.
 .
 Good luck.
 .
 -- Frank
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