Re: [9fans] noweb and literal programming

[Robert Raschke <rtrlists@googlemail.com>]

On 4/10/09, Rudolf Sykora <rudolf.sykora@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I've been thinking about 'well documented programs' and come across
> the 'noweb' program.
> Do you have any experience with literal programming and, particularly,
> noweb?
> (I noticed at least rsc seems to have played with it back in the year
> 2000. He programmed some scripts to use the system in Plan9...)
>
> Thanks
> Ruda
>

Over the years I have used CWEB, Spiderweb (pretty-print using your
own rules), noweb, Funnelweb, and nuweb. Literate Programming suits
the way I think when solving a problem. I tend to start programming a
narrative, telling the story of the solution. These days I use mainly
nuweb (small C program, very easy to customise to your own
preferences) and html.

LP is not for everyone. It is definitely not for someone used to work
in a modern IDE. And it takes a bit of courage and conviction, if your
working with other people.

I use it mostly for smallish programs; one or two code files, <5000
lines of code. For example, scripted business logic for the
integrtions I do at work. Larger stuff involving muliple modules
usually involves more people, so the lowest common denominator wins.

Nuweb should be easy to get running on Plan 9. Noweb is harder, since
it depens on a lot of Unix scripts.

Robby