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I'm a self-taught Front End Developer.

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aka The Poop Map

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Allons-y!

Developer

Software Engineer

Programmer

Code Monkey

Some days

When I look at my computer...

Sometimes

When I'm in conversation with other devs...

Parameter vs. Argument

What's the difference? Is there one?

Parameter vs. Argument

Parameter vs. Argument

var shark = function (side) {
  if (side == "left") {
    sillyDance();
    console.log("LOLOL");
  } else {
    normalDance();
  }
};

shark("left");
						

parameter (n.)

A geometry term until 1920s when it yielded sense of "measurable factor which helps to define a particular system" (1927).

- Online Etymology Dictionary

Argument (n.)

early 14c., "statements and reasoning in support of a proposition," from Old French arguement "reasoning, opinion; accusation, charge" (13c.)

- Online Etymology Dictionary

Computer Programming

- Wikipedia on Parameters in Computer Programming

Mathematical Functions

- Wikipedia on Parameters in Mathematical Functions

Please, go on...

The variable x designates the function's argument, but a, b, and c are parameters

f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c

Wait a second...

f(x) = ax^2

var foo = function (bar) {   console.log("What?"); };

Takeaway

Parameters help define a function.

Arguments are passed into a function.

Parameter vs. Argument

// Here's the parameter!
var shark = function (side) {
  if (side == "left") {
    sillyDance();
    console.log("LOLOL");
  } else {
    normalDance();
  }
};

// Here's the argument!
shark("left");
            

The terms parameter and argument are sometimes used interchangeably.

Scope

Lexical Scoping

Huh?

Lexical Scoping

Lexical scoping <=> Static scoping

Scope <=> Range of functionality

Called <=> Referenced

They use "scope" in the definition of lexical scope!

Break it down.

Scope (n.1)

"extent," 1530s, "room to act," from Italian scopo "aim, purpose, object, thing aimed at, mark, target," from Latin scopus...

- Online Etymology Dictionary

Scope

A scope is a part of a program that is or can be the scope for a set of bindings – a precise definition is tricky (see below), but in casual use and in practice largely corresponds to a block, a function, or a file, depending on language and type of entity.

- Wikipedia on Scope (computer science)

Scope

In computer programming, the scope of a name binding – an association of a name to an entity, such as a variable – is the part of a computer program where the binding is valid: where the name can be used to refer to the entity.

- Wikipedia on Scope (computer science)

Scope Again!

The strict definition of the (lexical) "scope" of a name (identifier) is unambiguous – it is "the portion of source code in which a binding of a name with an entity applies" – and is virtually unchanged from its 1960 definition in the specification of ALGOL 60.

- Wikipedia on Scope (computer science)

ALGOL  60

Short for ALGOrithmic Language 1960

ALGOL 60 was the first language implementing nested function definitions with lexical scope.

1960!

Lexical vs. Dynamic

Lexical scope is the main focus of this article, with dynamic scope understood by contrast with lexical scope.

- Wikipedia on Scope (computer science)

Lexical (adj.)

1833, from Greek lexikos "pertaining to words" (see lexicon) + -al (1). Related: Lexically.

- Online Etymology Dictionary

Dynamic (adj.)

- Online Etymology Dictionary

Lexical vs. Dynamic

... for most programming languages, "part of a program" refers to "portion of the source code (area of text)", and is known as lexical scope. In some languages, however, "part of a program" refers to "portion of run time (time period during execution)", and is known as dynamic scope.

Both of these terms are somewhat misleading – they misuse technical terms, as discussed in the definition – but the distinction itself is accurate and precise, and these are the standard respective terms.

- Wikipedia on Scope (computer science)

Lexical vs. Dynamic

In practice, with lexical scope a variable's definition is resolved by searching its containing block or function, then if that fails searching the outer containing block, and so on, whereas with dynamic scope the calling function is searched, then the function which called that calling function, and so on.

- Wikipedia on Scope (computer science)

Lexical vs. Dynamic

All that being said, dynamic scope is typically used less often than lexical scope.

Lexical Scope

Recursion

Recursion (n.)

1610s, from Latin recursionem (nominative recursio) "a running backward, return," noun of action from past participle stem of recurrere "run back".

- Online Etymology Dictionary

Recursion

The most common application of recursion is in mathematics and computer science, in which it refers to a method of defining functions in which the function being defined is applied within its own definition.

- Wikipedia on Recursion

Recursion

Specifically, this defines an infinite number of instances (function values), using a finite expression that for some instances may refer to other instances, but in such a way that no loop or infinite chain of references can occur.

- Wikipedia on Recursion

Recursion

In mathematics and computer science, a class of objects or methods exhibit recursive behavior when they can be defined by two properties:

1. A simple base case (or cases)—a terminating scenario that does not use recursion to produce an answer

2. A set of rules that reduce all other cases toward the base case

- Wikipedia on Recursion

Recursion

A function that calls itself.

Fibonacci Sequence

  var fibonacci = function (n) {
    return n < 2 ? n : fibonacci(n - 1) + fibonacci(n - 2);
  };
            

Factorials!

5! = 5 * 4 * 3 * 2 * 1

  var factorial = function (n) {
    if (n <= 1) {
      return 1;
    } else {
      return n * factorial(n-1);
    }
  };
            

Concatenation (n.)

c. 1600, from Late Latin concatenationem (nominative concatenatio) "a linking together," noun of action from past participle stem of concatenare "to link together," from com- "together" (see com-) + catenare, from catena "a chain" (see chain (n.)).

- Online Etymology Dictionary

This is my cat!

Recursive Cat!

Instantiate

Instantiate(v.)

1946, from instant (Latin instantia) + -ate. Related: Instantiated; instantiation.

- Online Etymology Dictionary

this WHAT???

Philosophy

In predicate logic Universal Instantiation (UI, also called universal specification or universal elimination, and sometimes confused with Dictum de omni) is a valid rule of inference from a truth about each member of a class of individuals to the truth about a particular individual of that class.

- Wikipedia on Universal Instantiation

Basically:

All cats are mammals.

Fry is a cat.

Therefore, Fry is a mammal.

var Mammal = function() {
  this.neoCortex = true;
};

var Cat = function(name, years) {
  this.name = name;
  this.years = years;
};

Cat.prototype = new Mammal;

var fryCat = new Cat('Fry', 7);
            

Cool!

Weirdly

Online Etymology DictionaryInstantiation redirects to Instantiate

WikipediaInstantiate redirects to Instantiation

Acronyms

CRM CMS CDN

Customer Relationship Managerlike Salesforce!

Content Management Systemlike Wordpress!

Content Delivery Networklike Amazon CloudFront!

SaaS vs. Sass

Please clarify when you're talking about these.

Software as a Service (like Salesforce)Syntactically awesome stylesheets (CSS extension language)

DOM

DOM

DOM

The Dom is a mountain of the Pennine Alps, located between Randa and Saas-Fee in the canton of Valais.

DOM

Document Object Model

The Document Object Model (DOM) is a cross-platform and language-independent convention for representing and interacting with objects in HTML, XHTML, and XML documents.

- Wikipedia on DOM

Document Object Model

The Document Object Model (DOM) is a programming interface for HTML, XML and SVG documents. It provides a structured representation of the document (a tree) and it defines a way that the structure can be accessed from programs so that they can change the document structure, style and content.

- Mozilla Developer Network on DOM

GUI  &  CLI

Ooey Gooey Butter Cake

Geoduck

CLI

GUI > CLI

Graphical User Interface (GUIs) were introduced in reaction to the perceived steep learning curve of Command-Line Interfaces (CLIs), which require commands to be typed on the keyboard.

AJAX

Who even uses XML? (JSON!)

jQuery AJAX method option

  async: false
            

SJAJ

Don't be like...

Please be more like...

It's difficult!

Thank you

jennz0r.github.io/think-know-not-sure