[PD] Abstractions x Externals

[Lorenzo Sutton]

Miller Puckette wrote:
> I think the term 'external' was coined by David Zicarelli (in the context
> of the M program, before Max) to mean an external code segment.  I've always
> used it to mean a calss defined in a dynamically linked object module
> (presumably written in C).
>
> I use the word 'abstractions' to refer to patches invoked by name in
> object boxes.  So for me at least, the two are different animals.
>
That has always been my understanding too (didn't know of the historical 
background of course :) ... I have always though that:

externals = the ones made in C
abstractions = the ones in Pd
objects = the 'boxes' (as in Put->object vs message, numberbox etc.) 
especially the vanilla ones (is [osc~] and object or an external?) ...  
but also an umbrealla term for abstractions, externals,...
(Pd) application = a set of multiple abstractions  and/or externals 
which run in Pd and constitute a somewhat 'self-contained' applicetion 
(like a sequencer, sampler etc.) often simply denoted by a cool/funky 
name like "Super-duper-hyper-mega-wave-a-tronic sampler" etc.

Lorenzo

> cheers
> Miller
>
> On Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 04:42:26AM +0000, Pedro Lopes wrote:
>> For me external is different from abstraction.
>> For what I understand there's a need for a joint concept, one that says
>> "this visual object box is<<something>>".
>>
>> Is that what you call class Mathieu?
>>
>> best,
>> Pedro
>> p.s.: this kinda answers another thread, where I posted that table of
>> concepts "mental exercise" (for me).
>>
>> On Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 4:36 AM, Alexandre Porres<porres at gmail.com>  wrote:
>>
>>> I didn't say they strictly are, but that they can be (as with list-abs).
>>>
>>> alex
>>>
>>> 2011/2/16 Mathieu Bouchard<matju at artengine.ca>
>>>
>>> On Tue, 15 Feb 2011, Alexandre Porres wrote:
>>>>   >  Btw-- the manual makes a distinction between>  "abstractions"
>>>>> and "externs".
>>>>>
>>>>> But it shouldn't, right? I mean, it's not real in practice, for
>>>>> abstractions can be externals...
>>>>>
>>>> Which definitions are you using ?
>>>>
>>>> I've never seen « abstractions are externals » nor anything that would
>>>> imply it.
>>>>
>>>> I tried introducing the word « class » in users' vocabulary, to include
>>>> both abstraction definitions and external definitions under a same word, and
>>>> using the word « object » to mean instances of either, but there is still
>>>> some resistance to using industry-standard vocabulary instead of whatever
>>>> the MAX manuals coughed up, for example.
>>>>
>>>> It would be good if you stated the definitions you use. It'd help me
>>>> understand how « abstractions are externals » can be a true statement.
>>>>
>>>>   _______________________________________________________________________
>>>> | Mathieu Bouchard ---- tél: +1.514.383.3801 ---- Villeray, Montréal, QC
>>>>
>>>
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>>
>> -- 
>> Pedro Lopes (MSc)
>> contact: pedro.lopes at ist.utl.pt
>> website: http://web.ist.utl.pt/Pedro.Lopes /
>> http://pedrolopesresearch.wordpress.com/ | http://twitter.com/plopesresearch
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