[Shootout-list] Idea for graph

[skaller]

On Wed, 2004-11-24 at 03:23, Isaac Gouy wrote:

> > Yes, I'm just reporting how I feel about it.
> 
> Then please keep comments about how you feel separate, from suggestions
> that there's something wrong with how the graph conveys information or
> how useful the graph is.

But its the same thing. The graph is a visual aid.
It doesn't provide any information you can't glean 
from the numbers. It's a way for people to grasp an idea,
since humans have good visual skills (and arguably
aren't so good at maths or logic .. :)

So I'm reporting the small 4 language graphs work well
for me, but the larger one doesn't.

I accept completely different people will react
in different ways.

I would not say there is something 'wrong' with the big
graph. I'm not a graphic artist, I don't have the intellectual
tools to critique layout very well.

All I can do is give you feedback as to how I respond,
and make some suggestions, and hope the information
is of some use to you.

> > Hmmm. Why is there a Greater and Core shootout?
> Why do you think so?

It was a rhetorical question .. paired with the following
suggestion:

> > Why not just THE Shootout, and provide checkbox
> > on the language list to select the language for
> > comparison or not? 

> You haven't stated what problem you think there is with the current
> organization, that these alternatives would fix. 

Well, I found the 4 language graphs were quite nice BUT
I wanted to compare more than 4 languages. In particular
for successive values of N to see the results for one
test for say 10 languages.

My suggestion would allow that, whilst not requiring 10
drop down boxes -- the whole list of languages is already
displayed on the same page anyhow. 

Some people might want only to compare 3 languages and others 20.

I would note that the drop boxes have the advantage of being
close to the graph. The page could perhaps be less cluttered
if the descriptions of the languages were removed. That might
allow the side-by-side graph to be bigger and/or allow the
check boxes I suggested to be closer to the graph. 

-- 
John Skaller, mailto:skaller@users.sf.net
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