Comments on: Enigmas into pockets http://www.krazydad.com/blog/2008/02/07/enigmas-into-pockets/ Interactive art, experimental software toys, screensavers and games by Jim Bumgardner. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:19:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: jbum http://www.krazydad.com/blog/2008/02/07/enigmas-into-pockets/comment-page-1/#comment-40491 jbum Sun, 10 Feb 2008 22:50:06 +0000 http://www.krazydad.com/blog/2008/02/07/enigmas-into-pockets/#comment-40491 Looking at the ads on the right, I see that the Google-bot can't quite figure out what this page is about... Looking at the ads on the right, I see that the Google-bot can’t quite figure out what this page is about…

]]> By: jbum http://www.krazydad.com/blog/2008/02/07/enigmas-into-pockets/comment-page-1/#comment-40490 jbum Sun, 10 Feb 2008 22:47:48 +0000 http://www.krazydad.com/blog/2008/02/07/enigmas-into-pockets/#comment-40490 That particular analogy came to me last week while I was teaching. If I come up with a good one, I'll keep using it. One I've been using for a few years is that functions are like the guy at the deli who takes your order. The name of the function is "make me a sandwich," and then you supply parameters, like "pastrami", "no mayo", "extra pickle". The reasons why JSON are necessary are arcane and rooted in historical accident, which make it a tough candidate for a simple analogy. In that particular case, I might simply demonstrate it, and compare the size (and time to parse) a JSON packet, versus comparable XML... I tend to find the big analogies more useful when preaching to lay audiences. That particular analogy came to me last week while I was teaching. If I come up with a good one, I’ll keep using it. One I’ve been using for a few years is that functions are like the guy at the deli who takes your order. The name of the function is “make me a sandwich,” and then you supply parameters, like “pastrami”, “no mayo”, “extra pickle”.

The reasons why JSON are necessary are arcane and rooted in historical accident, which make it a tough candidate for a simple analogy. In that particular case, I might simply demonstrate it, and compare the size (and time to parse) a JSON packet, versus comparable XML… I tend to find the big analogies more useful when preaching to lay audiences.

]]> By: wuzziwug http://www.krazydad.com/blog/2008/02/07/enigmas-into-pockets/comment-page-1/#comment-40374 wuzziwug Sun, 10 Feb 2008 05:11:38 +0000 http://www.krazydad.com/blog/2008/02/07/enigmas-into-pockets/#comment-40374 Hey Jim - Good explanation! I'd be interested in whatever other analogies you use. For some reason I feel like I've yet to come up with a really good way of explaining JSON (since it's both a way of transferring data and defining classes) that really conveys its extreme nifty-ness. Nice closing line. :) - pamela Hey Jim - Good explanation! I’d be interested in whatever other analogies you use. For some reason I feel like I’ve yet to come up with a really good way of explaining JSON (since it’s both a way of transferring data and defining classes) that really conveys its extreme nifty-ness.

Nice closing line. :)
- pamela

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