Web-graphics has an interesting thread going on that asks if creating XHTML/CSS is considered coding or not. It's an intruiging question, and the thread is going pretty good.
I don't know how much I really care, as I jump around from coding to programming to design to whatever, but it's a good question. Does creating the presentational layer count as coding? Anyways, it's a good thread, good question.
My feeling is that if there are no control structures or choices, it's markup, not coding.
Think of it this way: inserting control codes is how you manage markup/text presentation in things like Tex or even older word processors. Using WordStar wasn't programming, and neither is HTML.
Finally, few folks who have done actual programming entertain the idea that (X)HTML is anything but markup. Since "coding" is typically a synonym for "programming," I wouldn't call HTML/CSS markup "coding" in any true sense of the word.
True, it is a semantic issue. However, after spending the last 15 years in software development, I'll say that "coding" and "coder" are almost without exception used as synonyms for "programming" and "programmer."
Javascript, now, DOES have control structures, complex data types, etc., and therefore does qualify as a progamming language. There are those who insist that scripting != programming, but I don't hold with that, and I think it's a harder distinction to support. Most of the time, I think the task at hand says more about scripting vs. programming -- writing a complex page-automation system is probably programming, but a quick-and-dirty validation routine or element-repopulation function is probably just scripting.
Comments
chet
My feeling is that if there are no control structures or choices, it's markup, not coding.
Think of it this way: inserting control codes is how you manage markup/text presentation in things like Tex or even older word processors. Using WordStar wasn't programming, and neither is HTML.
Finally, few folks who have done actual programming entertain the idea that (X)HTML is anything but markup. Since "coding" is typically a synonym for "programming," I wouldn't call HTML/CSS markup "coding" in any true sense of the word.
Posted by: chet | December 17, 2003 11:16 AM
Tony
You see, I do separate coding and programming. And I think that's the heart of it all.
XHTML can be more than markup. Especially once you start adding in CSS and Javascript. But I wouldn't call it programming.
I think of coding as putting together symbols/tags/markings to control display and functionality.
I think of programming as logic-based pseduo-intelligence. A program.
Separate things in my mind. This could easily devolve into a semantically debate, which I don't want to do. But an interesting point.
Posted by: Tony | December 17, 2003 01:25 PM
Chet
True, it is a semantic issue. However, after spending the last 15 years in software development, I'll say that "coding" and "coder" are almost without exception used as synonyms for "programming" and "programmer."
Javascript, now, DOES have control structures, complex data types, etc., and therefore does qualify as a progamming language. There are those who insist that scripting != programming, but I don't hold with that, and I think it's a harder distinction to support. Most of the time, I think the task at hand says more about scripting vs. programming -- writing a complex page-automation system is probably programming, but a quick-and-dirty validation routine or element-repopulation function is probably just scripting.
Posted by: Chet | December 18, 2003 04:44 PM