tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956560213437381210.post6325670349655020940..comments2022-12-01T04:12:24.788-08:00Comments on Code Miscellany: Review: OCaml for Scientiststautologicohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03658701069636639534noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956560213437381210.post-84780398959344086382007-09-29T13:20:00.000-07:002007-09-29T13:20:00.000-07:00I would be ungrateful not to say a word to defend ...I would be ungrateful not to say a word to defend Jon here.<BR/><BR/> Numerous times I asked a question on the excellent OCaml-Beginners list, Jon answered me very usefully, often exhibiting a piece of code that efficiently did the job.<BR/><BR/> Moreover if he mentions his book deals with the question you are speaking about, I feel this kind of advertisement as the cleanest as possible, because it answers to your need.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956560213437381210.post-44877240196589018772007-09-28T03:21:00.000-07:002007-09-28T03:21:00.000-07:00Thank you for the wonderful review Andrei!Sorry ab...Thank you for the wonderful review Andrei!<BR/><BR/>Sorry about the barrage of ad-hominem attacks from the Lispers. They seem to follow me everywhere these days. Always good to see some anti-Lispers saying what I'm thinking too. ;-)Jon Harrophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11059316496121100950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956560213437381210.post-37672790045981050372007-09-28T03:15:00.000-07:002007-09-28T03:15:00.000-07:00I have Practical OCaml and OCaml for Scientists. D...I have Practical OCaml and OCaml for Scientists. Dr Harrop's book is simply excellent. Dr Harrop has been extremely helpful to me and others on the OCaml newsgroups. Not arrogant in anyway and exceptionally good. <BR/><BR/>As for the comment above about Lispers. Apart from being hilarious it is also accurate. I have yet to stumble upon a Lisper who isn't arrogant and/or deluded. Steele and Friedman aren't giving me shivers. OCaml post dates Common Lisp and is superior.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956560213437381210.post-31127178949206622712007-09-28T01:47:00.000-07:002007-09-28T01:47:00.000-07:00That comment about OCaml being beyond Lispers capa...That comment about OCaml being beyond Lispers capability is ludicrous... I suggest you go and tell Steele or Friedman that ! PLT, THAT's what really matters... As for Jon Harrop , I think he's perceived as being a bit arrogant, not good, no matter how clever you are....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956560213437381210.post-30819975764888467012007-09-28T01:24:00.000-07:002007-09-28T01:24:00.000-07:00Another freely available good one !http://caml.inr...Another freely available good one !<BR/><BR/>http://caml.inria.fr/pub/docs/u3-ocaml/index.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956560213437381210.post-44810358369945936682007-09-27T08:17:00.000-07:002007-09-27T08:17:00.000-07:00I purchased this book after reading many glowing r...I purchased this book after reading many glowing reviews on the web. The authors put their names to the reviews which is significant to me when reading a book review. <BR/><BR/>The negative comments appear to come only from the Lisp community. This is to be expected. As I prefer OCaml to Lisp I don’t give much credence to their objections. As far as I can tell they dislike Dr Harrop because he criticises their beloved language. It is no surprise that certain vocal Lispers dislike his book (although I doubt they have actually read any of it in reality) – OCaml is a little beyond their capabilities. Most intelligent Lispers move onto better languages when they reach puberty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956560213437381210.post-19463841347795373052007-09-26T14:03:00.000-07:002007-09-26T14:03:00.000-07:00Yes, it is overrated and extremely overpriced. I a...Yes, it is overrated and extremely overpriced. I also found it quite boring, but this is probablyjust my personal perception. You can probably learn ocaml from the freely available Docs or from the Cousineau/Mauny book a lot better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956560213437381210.post-89256345823582822632007-09-26T08:30:00.000-07:002007-09-26T08:30:00.000-07:00I don't consider Jon's comments as advertising (at...I don't consider Jon's comments as advertising (at least on the caml lists, don't know of the lisp one).<BR/><BR/>The ratio good comments/bad comments about Jon Harrop here is quite unfair compared to the good he does for the ocaml community.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956560213437381210.post-51276712075264251762007-09-26T07:17:00.000-07:002007-09-26T07:17:00.000-07:00having bought and read this pedantically titled bo...having bought and read this pedantically titled book while learning OCaml I have to say it is overrated and overpriced. It has valuable information but it does no justice to the price (neither do the numerous typos in it). <BR/><BR/>Moreover, the recent troll like behaviour the author of the book displayed in comp.lang.lisp is somewhat shameful...<BR/><BR/>IMHO, the free materials and the ocaml-beginners group are enough to learn the language.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956560213437381210.post-53201752819915094332007-09-25T14:26:00.000-07:002007-09-25T14:26:00.000-07:00That last message by Bob, "a science graduate from...That last message by Bob, "a science graduate from the University of Cambridge", smells a bit fishy...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956560213437381210.post-9785087449226433352007-09-25T09:38:00.000-07:002007-09-25T09:38:00.000-07:00I agree with tautologico. I read a lot of differen...I agree with tautologico. <BR/><BR/>I read a lot of different newsgroups. I don't find Dr Harrop's contributions offensive in any way (and certainly wouldn't class them as spam). This also applies to the lisp groups where I find the comments made by others far more offensive. <BR/><BR/>I find his comments about lisp interesting. Some lispers seem to feel the need to resort to personal attacks on Dr Harrop but that only reflects badly on them.<BR/><BR/>I bought his book and found it to be excellent. His contributions on various newsgroups are helpful and informative. He is one of the reasons I decided to try OCaml and I have not regretted it.<BR/><BR/>I'm looking forward to the release of his F# for scientists book.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13742429667747576461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956560213437381210.post-62575290137852685572007-09-25T08:00:00.000-07:002007-09-25T08:00:00.000-07:00First of all, I certainly didn't do any spamming, ...First of all, I certainly didn't do any spamming, much less trolling, by posting a book review on my own blog. So the comments about spam are out of place here. <BR/><BR/>But I also don't agree about your characterization of Dr. Harrop's messages as spam. I don't read newsgroups often, but in caml-list he's a frequent and helpful contributor, that once in a while, if it's appropriate to the thread, advertises his book. Spamming would be just the advertising, with little or no contribution to the topic. <BR/><BR/>And you have to realize the book is self-published, and as such doesn't have any marketing behind it, as it would be the case with a established publisher.tautologicohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03658701069636639534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956560213437381210.post-59193871275231647992007-09-25T02:24:00.000-07:002007-09-25T02:24:00.000-07:00I agree with the other anonymous reader.Dr Harrop'...I agree with the other anonymous reader.<BR/>Dr Harrop's spamming made me turn away from OCaml and this book.<BR/>I wish he realized he's not doing anyone any good with all the trolling on different usenet newsgroups and his advertisements on reddit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956560213437381210.post-22549208250757563062007-09-25T02:23:00.000-07:002007-09-25T02:23:00.000-07:00no, but there are other good texts freely availabl...no, but there are other good texts freely available :<BR/><BR/>http://www.cs.caltech.edu/courses/cs134/cs134b/book.pdf<BR/>http://caml.inria.fr/distrib/ocaml-3.10/ocaml-3.10-refman.pdfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956560213437381210.post-19994488100794582992007-09-24T22:39:00.000-07:002007-09-24T22:39:00.000-07:00This book looks very interesting... I've been thin...This book looks very interesting... I've been thinking of buying it for months now. However, with the current exchange rate it's around $170 US! I don't think I can justify that expense (I know I can't, my wife would kill me - "You paid how much for that book?!" )<BR/><BR/>Anybody know of any used copies around out there?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956560213437381210.post-10482632936450031212007-09-24T22:09:00.000-07:002007-09-24T22:09:00.000-07:00No matter how good or bad this book is: The way it...No matter how good or bad this book is: The way it gets advertised is a shame for the whole CS book industry!<BR/><BR/>All this trolling and spamming is getting on my nerves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com