Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!unix.cis.pitt.edu!pitt!willett!ForthNet
From: ForthNet@willett.pgh.pa.us (ForthNet articles from GEnie)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.forth
Subject: Conditionals !
Message-ID: <2468.UUL1.3#5129@willett.pgh.pa.us>
Date: 5 Mar 91 03:47:29 GMT
Organization: (n.) to be organized.  But that's not important right now.
Lines: 49


 Date: 03-02-91 (17:49)              Number: 1401 of 1401
   To: GARY SMITH                    Refer#: 1361
 From: CHRIS WATERS                    Read: 03-04-91 (05:30)
 Subj: Operating Systems             Status: PUBLIC MESSAGE
 Conf: FORTH (58)                 Read Type: GENERAL (+)

 Reply to: wmb@MITCH.ENG.SUN.COM (Mitch Bradley)
  Subject: Re: Conditional compilation

 > The conditional compilation proposal that the ANS committee is
 >currently  voting on via letter ballot uses the names  .IF  .ELSE
 >.THEN

 A very acceptable choice.  Much better than IFTRUE, etc.  I can easily
 live with, and even approve of those names.  I still think [IF] was a
 slightly better choice, but since I came up with that off the top of my
 head while composing that last mesage, I'm not surprised that it was
 too late to submit to the committee.  :)

 > The advantage of IFTRUE OTHERWISE IFEND is that those names are
 >mentioned  in the Forth-83 document (which is why my Forth
 >systems use those names).

 I'm not sure that being in the 83-standard is something that could
 really be called an "advantage". :)  And as I pointed out, END and ;:
 are mentioned in the 83-standard as well.  I saw no reason to include
 these in my Forth either.  None of these were required words.  Despite
 the fact that I fought for several features in the 83-standard, through
 the offices of my good friend John James, I cannot say I was ever
 pleased with the result.  I'm beginning to think I may find myself
 pleased with ANSI-Forth, though.  But only time (and a copy of BASIS
 that I can actually READ) will tell.

 regards,
 Chris (email only to spelunky@darkside.com)
 ---
 Tag1.3 * Maybe I should have asked for my Neutron Bomb in PAISLEY!
 ---
  * SFUTI 3.01 / The Cave BBS -- Unix/Xenix/Anime/Forth/C/Madness..

 PCRelay:THECAVE -> #559 RelayNet (tm)
 4.10               The Cave (408)259-8098 12/24/96/19.2 HST/DS
 <<<>>>
-----
This message came from GEnie via willett.  You *cannot* reply to the author
using e-mail.  Please post a follow-up article, or use any instructions
the author may have included (USMail addresses, telephone #, etc.).
Report problems to: dwp@willett.pgh.pa.us _or_ uunet!willett!dwp