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During programing, I come up with some questions. For example, What is the difference between a DOM and a syntax tree?, tagged with and .

Reading this article What topics can I ask about here? - Help Center - Computer Science Stack Exchange, I don't see where it directly mentions about this. I think the question may be classified as "programming language semantics, formal methods", but I'm not sure.

Most off-topic example questions in Are programming questions in scope on CS.SE? tie to a specific language, while my question is about web technology in general. And I think any computer technology is applied computer science.

The ACS Applied Computer Science journal lists its subject areas (categories) as: Computer Science, Information Systems, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Economics, Econometrics, Management. I guess web technology is a sub area of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering?

Some say that questions about implementations aren't on-topic. I understand that. But then, what is the difference between "implementing" and "applying"? Isn't that applying CS requires you to implementing a CS theory into code? Can you give some example?

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  • $\begingroup$ Parsers are generally on-topic, although implementation details of them usually not. I think the question you posted is fine. $\endgroup$
    – Discrete lizard Mod
    Commented Dec 1 at 18:10
  • $\begingroup$ I've slightly edit the question to reflect this. When is it an implementation and when is it applied computer science question? $\endgroup$
    – Ooker
    Commented Dec 7 at 7:20

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I think it's on-topic, assuming it is about concepts rather than code or implementations.

I generally discourage "What is the difference between X and Y?" questions. My experience is that they often aren't an ideal match for the goals of this site. If you understand X and Y, you usually should be able to answer that yourself. If there is some specific aspect about X or Y you don't understand, it would be best to ask about that specific aspect. If you don't have any clue about X or Y, it would be better to first do some research on X and Y, then ask about something specific you don't understand.

If you do ask, please make sure to define what you mean by a "DOM parser", and where you encountered it. That phrase is new to me. I don't understand what "what are more" means, so please explain that aspect of your question as well.

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  • $\begingroup$ the question has been asked. Is it good? $\endgroup$
    – Ooker
    Commented Dec 1 at 13:32
  • $\begingroup$ what is the difference between "implementing" and "applying"? Isn't that applying CS requires you to implementing a CS theory into code? Can you give some example? $\endgroup$
    – Ooker
    Commented Dec 2 at 6:45
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In my opinion, the question is on-topic, using mainly , but could also be or any other tag about grammars.

What is off-topic is a question about a particular piece of code.

As an example, what we don't want is:

Hi, I have this algorithm that I must implement, here is my code in Python, but it doesn't work can somebody help me debug it?

What is perfectly ok:

Hi, I have this broad question about programming languages, not related to a specific program, for example, what are the pros and cons of compiling and interpreting?

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  • $\begingroup$ How about a question like this? "During working on this code [insert code...], I find the documentation is confusing. The terms are used differently from my understanding from other source. Is it correct that it should have written like [insert text...]?" $\endgroup$
    – Ooker
    Commented Dec 1 at 10:33
  • $\begingroup$ @Ooker I am not sure, that seems to be a bit too specific about a certain programming language, and not about concepts. $\endgroup$
    – Nathaniel
    Commented Dec 1 at 10:38
  • $\begingroup$ I ask a separate quetion on this. Hope to see you there $\endgroup$
    – Ooker
    Commented Dec 1 at 13:31

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