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From: andree@uokvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Pascal Emacs project starting - (nf)
Message-ID: <3795@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 20-Nov-83 00:36:05 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.3795
Posted: Sun Nov 20 00:36:05 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 14-Nov-83 01:34:27 EST
Lines: 27

#R:sri-arpa:-1336100:uokvax:3400010:000:1023
uokvax!andree    Nov  9 06:39:00 1983

Emacs in Pascal? How much of Emacs? All? Most? Enough to make
you happy?

First, I want to say that what makes Emacs EMACS (to me, anyway)
is the slick hook in the command processor. Emacs (the one I used
to use) has LOTS of commands, known by nice long names. Normally,
you bound them to keystrokes so you did't have to type things
like `forward-character' to move the cursor. The ability to add
new commands (and new bindings!) at run time is an integral part
of this.

As such, you almost certainly can't do a full Emacs in Pascal.
Many people have tried and floundered; they usually wound up
writing an interpreter to write the command processor in. These
interpreters have an uncanny habit of looking like LISP (though
you might be able to do it in FORTH.) If you try to stick with
Pascal, you'll probably wind up with something like Mince or TED.

So, to the point: You ought to decide how much of EMACS you want
to impliment, and THEN worry about the design issues. They will
affect you greatly.

	Much Luck,
	<mike