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From: johnston@oscar.ccm.udel.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hypercard
Subject: Re: Formal Definition of Hypertalk
Message-ID: <33157@nigel.ee.udel.edu>
Date: 11 Oct 90 16:54:11 GMT
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-- ongoing thread --

>> I have two related questions as to (gack! neep!) Hypertalk considered
>> as a (geeble!) programming language.
> 
>(Geeble!) wins the prize for weirdest adjective of the week.
> 
>>      1.  How's the standardization effort?
> 
>Standardization?  For an embedded language appearing on a single platform?

IMHO, standardization (insofar as possible) for XCMD's, scripting, and 
macro generation should be addressed ASAP by a standards committee composed
of developers who employ 'embedded' language features in their applications.

One of the regrettable aspects of the proliferation of scripting is that 
when an individual developer implements a proprietary 'meta-language', or
merely adds a new feature to an existing one, ideas are effectively taken
out of circulation.  In order to incorporate similar features in another
scripting language, a new (or thinly disguised) syntax must be employed.
Of course, the command "on openStack" will never have a meaning within 
a White Knight script; loop syntax, however, could be made nearly consistent 
for many scripting situations.

The time to discuss *OPEN* standards for scripting language development is
NOW, while the script-able applications for our favorite 'single platform'
still have distinct advantages which can be used to justify the purchase
of more Macs.  If scripting degenerates into a 'free-for-all', Apple
stands to lose the competitive advantage it has built through Hypercard
development, and *we* end up learning 10 different scripting languages,
with exasperating and largely cosmetic differences.

My 'geeble' two cents...Bill Johnston (johnston@oscar.ccm.udel.edu)
Bill Johnston; 38 Chambers St.; Newark, DE 19711; (302)368-1949