Uninitiated Reader

Meaning

The original Report on the Algorithmic Language Algol 68, accepted in December 1968, was notoriously difficult to read, not only because of the usage of the two-level grammars and formal representation, but also because it lacked pragmatic descriptions.

The Revised Report, accepted at the end of 1973, incorporated many improvements in the described language, but also added many pragmatic descriptions to improve the readability. It also acknowledged the reported difficulties in the following famous paragraph in [RR 0.1.1]:

“The Group wishes to contribute to the solution of the problems of describing a language clearly and completely. The method adopted in this Report is based upon a formalized two-level grammar, with the semantics expressed in natural language, but making use of some carefully and precisely defined terms and concepts. It is recognized, however, that this method may be difficult for the uninitiated reader.”

It is to note that, although the readability problems were in their most part fixed by the Revised Report, which was a way more accessible document than the original report, the bad reputation of the later persisted and contributed to create FUD and the false impression that the described language (as opposed to the method of representation) was very difficult to learn.

Usage

The uninitiated reader or simply the uninitiated is sometimes used to refer to inexperienced programmers or users.

C. H. Lindsey dedicated his Informal Introduction to ALGOL 68 “To the Uninitiated Reader”.

See Also