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Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 15:06:15 +1100
Subject: Re: Python declarative
From: Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com>
Cc: "python-list@python.org" <python-list@python.org>
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On Sun, Jan 26, 2014 at 1:45 PM, Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> If I worked as a consultant I'd much prefer the XML version as I'd be able
> to charge much more on the grounds that I'd done much more, hoping that the
> people paying didn't bother with design reviews or the like :)

And that's very true. If someone wants something infinitely
customizeable, the best solution might be an empty file with a shebang
at the top - but that's hardly something you can charge oodles for.
This is where soft-coding comes from.

http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Soft_Coding.aspx

The business logic examples given there are best served by hard code.
Suppose you need to calculate this-value plus that-value times
other-value; is there any difference between writing that in Python
(ugh, that's hard code!) and putting the formula in a config file,
where it'll get parsed and evaluated (oh, that's a config file, that's
fine)? As you'll see in my other post, there's a formula evaluator
routine there; it takes a string of code and compiles it:

(wealth_plat*1000+wealth_gold*100+wealth_silver*10+wealth_copper)/100

It's straight code, and it's embedded. If ever the rules change, I can
edit the code. For instance, here's the D&D Fourth Edition version of
that:

(wealth_plat*10000+wealth_gold*100+wealth_silver*10+wealth_copper)/100

Should the value of a platinum coin be moved out into a config file?
Maybe. MAYBE. Should the value of a silver piece be? Definitely not!
There's no use-case for silver pieces being worth anything other than
ten copper. If and when there is one, the code can simply be edited.
There is no value in soft-coding this formula.

Code isn't something to be afraid of. It's just text files like any
other. After all, Python code is a config file for /usr/bin/python, so
if you want to change what Python does, just edit its config file!

ChrisA