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@brocktopus
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Submission on the rhetorical significance of naming (files, variables, functions) in code.

@steveklabnik
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I like it! An interesting example that is related is Ruby on Rails' Array#forty_two controversy. Here's the documentation. As you can tell 'the Reddit' is a reference to Reddit. rails/rails@e50530c is the commit that introduced it. rails/rails@22af62c is the commit that caused it. See the comments. Here is the 'the reddit' thread, and here is the thread after.

@WardCunningham
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The metaphorical naming of software elements has been discussed at great length on the c2 wiki:

http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?CategoryMetaphor

Extreme Programming specifically asks for careful choice of metaphor in its System Metaphor practice:

http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?SystemMetaphor

@brocktopus
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I just wanted to note that those wiki discussions are fantastic. Thanks for the feedback--I am definitely taking that info into consideration as I consider how to improve upon this submission.

@WardCunningham
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I'm glad you found that discussion useful.

System Metaphor has been recognized as the least-practiced practice in extreme programming or any other agile method. Joshua Kerievsky founded a group conversation to explore why. I don't recall any conclusion but there is an archive waiting to be explored.

https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!forum/softwaremetaphor

@brocktopus
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I've added in an extra example (Roedy Green's "How to Write Unmaintainable Code" and briefly referred to Ward's note on system metaphor in my introduction. I continue to welcome any and all comments, concerns, questions, critiques, etc.

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I love it when scholarship references in-process review material! It heightens the awareness of writing as not being a monolithic event.

revised submission based on reviewer comments and concerns
revised submission based on reviewer comments and concerns

tweaked university affiliation

tweaked university affiliation
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4 participants