In case some are interested, I just posted a new blog entry at

http://www.tincat-group.com/mewsings/

Feel free to comment either on the blog or here. Cheers! --dawn

To say that Pick does not type and is variable length is not really correct,
if, you use dictionary items correctly. I realize the pick-a-likes do allow
a programmer to do just about anything their little heart desires but if you
want to stick to some kind of standards in your programming you will try to
stick close to what is defined in your dictionary. Otherwise why even have a
dictionary. Yes, there are programmers that don't bother trying to set up
dictionaries, in my opinion they are doing half their job and an injustice
to their employer.
Jerry

"dawn" <dawnwolthuis (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote

jpb wrote:
Prescriptive schema is quite different from descriptive (e.g. Pick)
dictionaries. "Typing" is a term that likely has many meanings, but I
am using it to mean that there is contrained or enforced typing.
Similarly, the lengths related to dictionary items are descriptive, not
constraining, and have to do with representation.

Another thing that MV has related to dictionaries is synonyms of
different "types" and lengths. This, too, flies in the face of strong
typing.

As descriptive.

In general, I agree that they are important. Headed to the airport.
cheers! --dawn