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06/20/2004: "Sloppy writing"

I am learning C#. To that end, I am reading Jesse Liberty's, Programming C#. So far, it is a nice book, but when Liberty writes, "A console application has no user interface (UI)," I have to shake my head. Since when did a user interface have to be graphical?

I can understand the slip of the fingers (or tongue, as I'd wager he has said this aloud before, too). We have a tendency, when writing or speaking within a narrow context, to use certain shortcuts. We omit words that we assume are understood to the reader or listener. In this case, though, I have to be a little disappointed with Liberty's writing. It is one thing to write intentionally within a narrow context. It is quite another to allow one's thinking to narrow by calling a text-based user interface "no user interface". To me, that's just silly.

Do not let me say that this is indicative of the quality of Liberty's book. I have not yet read enough to form a full opinion. I do find it a little troubling, though.