Parameters [WAS: Main menu puzzle]

[Jim Ault]

> Mark Swindell wrote:
>> 
>> Parameters are, to me, the least well-explained and  least
>> intuitive aspect of Rev (and programming in general).
> 
You order a meal at a restaurant.
The waitress writes down your order, but does so in a rather cryptic
fashion.. coffee with cream, a prune danish, scrambled eggs and bacon, and a
glass of water.  The parameters you give to her.

The waitress goes back to the short order cook and 'hangs a tag'.  This slip
of paper has the parameters the cook needs to process food items into the
meal that matches the order.  The cook stops smoking his cigarette long
enough to slide the hot meal onto the shelf for the waitress.

The waitress picks up the luke-warm plate and brings it to your table,
adding to this, the danish, cold cup of coffee and the water.   Just what
you had in mind when you sat down.

Thus, you give the waitress a long list of parameters, she processes some of
them, and passes a few to the short order cook, who does likewise.

Oh, and one other thing.. although you did not specifically request this,
the bill is added to the items you receive because it is implied by your
placing an order.

At home, you have to provide all of the services.  At a restaurant, there is
the WaitressFunction, CookFunction, CashierFunction.  Depending on how the
owner programmed his restaurant, you get variations in menu, service, and
satisfaction.

Jim Ault
Las Vegas