[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: List packages Status column terminology
From: |
Thien-Thi Nguyen |
Subject: |
Re: List packages Status column terminology |
Date: |
Fri, 17 Jan 2014 09:53:45 +0100 |
User-agent: |
Gnus/5.13 (Gnus v5.13) Emacs/24.3 (gnu/linux) |
() Sivaram Neelakantan <address@hidden>
() Fri, 17 Jan 2014 10:26:57 +0530
Why use the word 'available' instead of 'install'?
Short answer:
Mixing adjectives and verbs is inelegant. Too, verbs portend entropy.
Long answer:
Both "available" and "installed" are adjectives (of same length --
green-screen bonus!). Adjectives are suitable for describing things.
The word "install" is a verb, i.e., names an action. Other actions
might be "uninstall", "remove", "leave-be", "gripe", "recommend",
"ponder", "examine", "reinstall", etc. To my eyes, the "etc" is most
important; it implies a need for (detailed) documentation, and the
feeping creature of hyperlinks.
Whimsical answer:
do be do be do,
be do be do be!
in my heart i knew
that two requires three?
--
Thien-Thi Nguyen
GPG key: 4C807502
(if you're human and you know it)
read my lisp: (responsep (questions 'technical)
(not (via 'mailing-list)))
=> nil
pgph7feWIhtdR.pgp
Description: PGP signature