Re: st: Stata interface

[David Airey <david.airey@vanderbilt.edu>]

> WAS Re: st: Histograms (was:  Multiple (overlaid) Histogram)
>
> On Thu, 29 May 2003, Richard Goldstein wrote:
> > For any graphic command that has an option such
> > as bin (histogram), bwidth (lowess), width (kdensity),
> > I would very much like to see dynamic graphics -- i.e.,
> > a slider such that I can change
>
> I'm undecided at present, but see dangers in this suggestion, the main 
> one
> being that Stata could (like other software) grow into a ragbag of
> uncoordinated features with no philosophy.
I sincerely doubt this would happen given the identity of the Stata 
leadership, and what they've accomplished so far.


> I hold to the advantages of a
> command-based system for serious data analysis (as compared to "the
> computer printed this number so it must be right").  Dynamic graphics 
> are
> like a random walk: you may find a pretty view, but does that make it
> meaningful? If there is some objective measure to optimize, should that
> not be built into the program?  If not, it is a design decision.
> DataDesk has an alternative philosophy, based on linking observations
> between related dynamic graphics.  A news report yesterday suggested 
> that
> playing computer games is beneficial - they help develop hand-eye
> coordination, concentration and attention to detail.  I think a similar
> argument could be advanced for any occupation taken seriously:
> bird-watching or stamp collecting.  Certainly DataDesk can be used well
> and can give insights during data analysis, but equally, I suspect, it 
> can
> be used as a surrogate for thinking.  Fiddling with screen objects is 
> the
> modern equivalent of rearranging the pens on your desk when stuck for
> inspiration.
These comments sounded grumpy so I thought I'd be grumpy too.

A well constructed GUI is useful; not all GUIs are well constructed. 
Somehow I don't think the equations "command line = serious analysis" 
while "GUI EDA = tinkering" make too much sense. This smacks of "Macs 
are toys while PCs are machines". If graphics were not important, we 
could avoid them. Avplots would not be considered important. 
Scatterplots would be deprecated. Live EDA simply enhances already 
useful procedures.

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