[AccessD] Naming Conventions

Colby, John JColby at dispec.com
Wed Aug 11 13:46:01 CDT 2004


>Would you kindly tone down the vitriol? My eyes start to hurt when you
start yelling

Do I hafta?

Naming conventions are more than prefixes.  Naming conventions often
(usually?) include suggestions for such things as how to capitalize, how to
abbreviate, prefixes, use of (or prohibition of) _)(*&^%$#@! in variable
names and so forth.

These are both just different parts of the same issue.

JWC

-----Original Message-----
From: Arthur Fuller [mailto:artful at rogers.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 2:34 PM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
Subject: RE: [AccessD] Naming Conventions


A) Would you kindly tone down the vitriol? My eyes start to hurt when
you start yelling :)
B) MS dropped the notion of Hungarian prefixes. That is quite a
different issue than "should Inventory Item be represented by II?"

A.

-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of John W. Colby
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 11:35 PM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
Subject: RE: [AccessD] Naming Conventions


>Then why has Microsoft CHANGED it's recommended naming conventions..

And you call II for Inventory Item a naming convention?  Why not just
call it I and be done with it.  That's after all a 100% reduction in
keystrokes! If speed of typing the code is all that matters why add the
extra I?  It does nothing for me!

Would you call I for inventory item a naming convention?  I think we
need to redefine the term naming convention in that case.

I call it as I see it which is "in too much of a hurry to bother".  

Further much of Microsoft's argument has nothing to do with strongly
typed so much as the availability of intellisense which is just a STUPID
argument. Now I have to place the cursor over something to see what it
is.  STUPID! STUPID!!  STUPID!!!  The fact that Microsoft is proud of
their intellisense (and rightfully so, it is WONDERFUL) in no way makes
it a replacement for a naming convention.  STUPID!

>In the real world, where you develop different projects with different
teams, in different companies, you're simply not going to always be able
to use the same convention. Therefore you need to be adaptable.

Yea.  I kinda draw the line at II as a naming convention.  

I have indeed worked at many different companies, using many different
conventions.  I must admit I've never seen II accepted as a variable
name at any of them though.  

Actually I take it back, back in the wild and woolly old west days when
'C' was just getting started, and only real men used it, they did do
some of that kind of stuff.  Thankfully cooler heads prevailed, the
Marshals moved in, Judges were appointed and hanging the rustlers from
the nearest tree was banished.  

Or so I thought.  ;-)

John W. Colby
www.ColbyConsulting.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Haslett,
Andrew
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 10:42 PM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
Subject: RE: [AccessD] Naming Conventions


Then why has Microsoft CHANGED it's recommended naming conventions..

They recommend NOT to use prefixes now as its less relevant working in
strongly typed languages such as .Net.  Hungarian is out...
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/vbcn7/
html
/vaconVBNamingRules.asp)
(http://www.ssw.com.au/SSW/Standards/DeveloperDotNet/DotNetStandard_Obje
ctNa
ming.aspx)

Your argument about using the same naming conventions 'everywhere' so it
us universally recognised, is therefore mute. Microsoft THEMSELVES have
changed. Times change, technology changes, standards change.

The most important thing about using naming conventions is to actually
use one (as is usually the outcome of this religious argument). As long
as its documented as to WHAT convention you are using within a project,
and you stick to it, then those that follow have a reference.

In the real world, where you develop different projects with different
teams, in different companies, you're simply not going to always be able
to use the same convention. Therefore you need to be adaptable.

A



-----Original Message-----
From: John W. Colby [mailto:jwcolby at colbyconsulting.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, 11 August 2004 11:50 AM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
Subject: RE: [AccessD] Naming Conventions

Saving your time is nowhere near as relevant as saving the time of the
person coming in after you.  You put in 100 hours or 200 hours and are
done. The maintenance is hundreds or thousands of hours over many many
years.  If the poor schmuk coming in has to spend 100 hours just
figuring out what the heck your naming is before they can even do
anything, the company just lost all the money you saved them and MORE.
That person goes away and the next person comes in and spends 100 hours
figuring out your crazy naming scheme...  That person goes away...
Hmm.... 

II?  GIVE ME A BREAK!!!

You are not focused on the overall picture, just your convenience and
"getting it out the door".  

I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that if you went to a
Microsoft, or any other large company and told them "I want to program
for you and this is what I do and why" (giving them this email below)
they would politely show you the door.  

Using the fact that there is no "one standard" to justify doing whatever
you feel like is just silly.

John W. Colby
www.ColbyConsulting.com 


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