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From: rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn)
Newsgroups: net.lang
Subject: ALGOL 68
Message-ID: <75@opus.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 24-Sep-85 22:37:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: opus.75
Posted: Tue Sep 24 22:37:23 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 29-Sep-85 04:21:41 EDT
References: <3130001@csd2.UUCP> <59@opus.UUCP> <247@ivax.icdoc.UUCP>
Organization: NBI,Inc, Boulder CO
Lines: 35

> >> Algol 68 is the right language for scientific programming. Rich operators,
> >It has everything C does except available implementations, interfaces to
> 
> Come on ! What about:
> Two portable implementations : ALGOL 68C and ALGOL68 68RS working on IBM
> and DEC kit, 
> One manufacturer supported full (including PAR BEGIN END & SEMAPHORES) 
> implementation :  CDC 
> A usable subset on PDP11 '68S

ALGOL 68C, as I saw it many years ago, was not portable in any useful sense
of the word.  I know; we tried but were overwhelmed with problems before we
ever got out of the starting gate.  At the time I saw it, it was also
clearly not a production compiler.  That's been more than a decade ago; I
don't know what's happened since then but a perusal of the open literature
doesn't turn up glowing reports of success for ALGOL 68C or any other
implementation of the language (except possibly the early success with 68R
at the RRE).

I've never seen any information for an implementation supported by any
commercial firm.  In fact, it's been years since I've seen any information
on ANY generally-available implementation.  NOTE what I'm saying--I haven't
SEEN it, and I'm speaking particularly about the U.S.  That doesn't mean
that it doesn't exist.

Supposedly S. Bourne developed an ALGOL 68 compiler for UNIX circa V7...but
what happened to it?

Believe me, I'd LOVE to be swamped with mail from people telling me that
there's a good ALGOL 68 system available and how could I be such an idiot
as not to know about it!  I'm not about to write my own damn compiler, but
I'd be willing to port one and I'd love to be able to use one.
-- 
Dick Dunn	{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd		(303)444-5710 x3086
   ...If you plant ice, you're gonna harvest wind.


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