Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!rpi!bu.edu!purdue!mentor.cc.purdue.edu!l.cc.purdue.edu!cik
From: cik@l.cc.purdue.edu (Herman Rubin)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.misc
Subject: Re: What is the language for ?
Summary: They all are, but that is not enough
Keywords: FORTRAN, languages, stupidity of software which does not let users communicate their needs
Message-ID: <2416@l.cc.purdue.edu>
Date: 29 Jul 90 03:03:03 GMT
References: <1990Jul25.174153.16896@ecn.purdue.edu> <11029@chaph.usc.edu> <5374@castle.ed.ac.uk>
Organization: Purdue University Statistics Department
Lines: 26

In article <5374@castle.ed.ac.uk>, nick@lfcs.ed.ac.uk (Nick Rothwell) writes:
> In article <2408@l.cc.purdue.edu>, cik@l.cc (Herman Rubin) writes:

			..........................

> The communications scheme should be such as to enable the programmer
> to express and solve his problem.
> 
> No?

With enough work, I could interpret any machine and any of the current
languages in any other, assuming that memory problems do not occur.  

It should be such as to enable the programmer to express his problem
in a manner that is compatible with the structure of his problem and
the capabilities of the machine.  It should also be such that the
resulting program is reasonably efficient.

Now I do not believe that a language which can accomplish all this
can be produced which is completely portable.  But it is necessary
to take these things into account in designing the language.  Making
it extensible can enable local modifications to be made. 
-- 
Herman Rubin, Dept. of Statistics, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette IN47907
Phone: (317)494-6054
hrubin@l.cc.purdue.edu (Internet, bitnet)	{purdue,pur-ee}!l.cc!cik(UUCP)