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From: afoiani@nmsu.EDU (Anthony Foiani)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.pascal
Subject: Re: Re^2: Standard Pascal
Message-ID: <AFOIANI.89Jul1173226@dante.nmsu.EDU>
Date: 1 Jul 89 23:32:26 GMT
References: <8616@pyr.gatech.EDU> <18965@paris.ics.uci.edu>
	<3228@mentor.cc.purdue.edu>
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Organization: New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
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In-reply-to: ags@mentor.cc.purdue.edu's message of 1 Jul 89 18:22:03 GMT


const USABLE='efficient, fast, easy_to_use"

if Pascal isn't time-effective (i.e. more time munching over
donuts instead of code-crunching) then it isn't a USABLE language.

if Pascal doesn't create efficient code... then it isn't a USABLE
language.

if Pascal requires me (or anyone else) to spend more time learning the
process of compilation/linking/etc. than developing algorithms and
code... then it isn't a USABLE language.

hmm... I wonder.

having only 8 significant letters in a variable name gives you only
... 2.46822880546E+12 unique variable names.  obviously, this is an
*important* obstacle in program development.

------------ enuf

I am not arguing that Turbo is better than standard Pascal (altho in
my mind it is...:=);  I am arguing that 'standard' anything is
implicitly better than 'nonstandard' anything else.

I am also asking that when you look at a language, it should be as a
whole; not just one particular little glib of syntax.  The original
posting mentioned "instruction" of Pascal;  To me, the easiest way to
learn a language is to be able to "hop right in."  It is easier to
teach a classful of students "type this in, then hit Control-F9" than
"type this in, exit the editor, compile the program, link the program,
run the program"... not to mention the time differential.

One parting shot:  if *everyone* stuck to standards *all* the time...

               where would society be today???
"No, Wilbur... only birds can fly"
"Marconi, you idiot.... thinking pretty little sparks can go
anywhere..."

etc.

laters,

--
tony foiani  (afoiani@nmsu.edu)         "And remember...don't lose your
             (mcsajf@nmsuvm1.bitnet)     head..." -The Kurgan, HIGHLANDER