Why am I doing this?
When I was hired as a GIS intern I had never even heard of the Magik language. Over that first summer I tried to learn the language, but it was challenging because there were no reliable sources of information. I couldn’t find any good books or guides or how to manuals. I’d have even settled for a few pieces of pseudo-code written on a post it note somewhere. I did manage to learn the language by pouring over the source code in our system and talking to other programmers, but it would have been really nice to have a reference manual or something.
So, with several years of experience, I thought I’d start a web log of some of the tricks I’ve picked up. This won’t be “The Most Ultimate Guide to Magik Programming Ever.” I’m going to add some entry level stuff at first and gradually get more sophisticated as time goes on. My intention is to share the basics with other new Magik programmers. Many in the industry lament the lack of young new Magik programmers, so hopefully I can make it easier for new people to break into the small cadre of Magik programmers. It’s a very specific language for a very specific purpose, but it’s a nice niche for any programmer that wants to work in the GIS industry. If any Magik geniuses (Joe, Tim, etc.) read this and want to comment, please do. Especially if I’m wrong, please correct me.