Variables

[Robert Kern]

Richard Blackwood wrote:
> Robert Kern wrote:

>> If you must, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable
>>
> Fantastic, wikipedia deals precisely with the difference between 
> variables in mathematics versus programming. However, he would never 
> trust a definition from such an "unreputable" source. If you have any 
> other sources I might direct him to...he maintains that the notion of 
> foo being a variable where it's value is known (versus unknown) is 
> illogical.

His problem is that he doesn't respect that technical terms can have 
different meanings in different fields and contexts. No authoritative 
reference can solve his problem for him. He's being overly pedantic 
about a field in which *he* is clearly not an authority. You can't 
convince such people, only ignore them.

-- 
Robert Kern
rkern at ucsd.edu

"In the fields of hell where the grass grows high
  Are the graves of dreams allowed to die."
   -- Richard Harter