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From: rickers@drexel.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Coral Object Logo
Message-ID: <461@drexel.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 22-Feb-87 22:44:19 EST
Article-I.D.: drexel.461
Posted: Sun Feb 22 22:44:19 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 24-Feb-87 02:22:26 EST
References: <1725@PUCC.BITNET> <4794@mit-eddie.MIT.EDU> <690@bgsuvax.UUCP>
Distribution: na
Organization: Drexel University, Phila., Pa.
Lines: 78
Summary: Good for learning OOP

In article <4794@mit-eddie.MIT.EDU>, mdc@mit-eddie.MIT.EDU (Martin Connor) writes:
> In article <1725@PUCC.BITNET> 6065833@PUCC.BITNET writes:
> > Can anyone recommend another LOGO for the macintosh?  Has anyone found
> > a way to print graphics windows on >a laserwriter?  Any information
> > would be greatly appreciated.
> Object Logo from Coral Software in Cambridge, Mass is a good value.
> It is about $80 and has loads of features, Comes with Finder 5.3 and
> system 3.2, lots of examples, a good reference manual, and is
> supported by a solid bunch of hackers (I know some of them).
> They have an ad in this month's MACWORLD, with ordering info.

I have received a copy of Object Logo from Coral Software a week or so
ago and have found it to be quite an interesting product.  I have been
interested in Object Oriented Programming for the last two years and
have found the time spent learning Object Logo to be worthwhile.  At
one point I had spent a lot of time playing with Logo, and had used
this experience when I was fiddling around with Object Logo.

Some conclusions that I have drawn from using Object Logo:

    1) Let's talk about the manual first...
        - Huge!  Mainly a reference to the language.
        - Assumes an understanding of Logo and Object Oriented ideas.
        - Awkward format.  Elongated (Yuck).  Bars which mark
          additions to the language are always on the right hand side of
          the page and are hard to see on the left sided pages.

    2) The program...
        - Tends to be slow, but so does Logo.
        - Adheres nicely to other Logos.
        - Environment is pseudo-multitasking.
        - Easy to edit work.
        - Multiple editing windows allowed.
        - Garbage collection seems to happen to often (depending on
          program usage) with a large workspace (can be slow!
          a few seconds average).

    3) The language...
        - Very similar to other Logos (already said)
        - Very nice O-O concepts added!  An Object-Oriented Language
        does not necessarily have to be like all the others, and this
        one is not.  It does feature a lot of O-O ideas, more than
        other OOPLS on the mac.  To name a few:
            = Inheritance (multiple!!!!!!)
            = Different types of binding (static & dynamic)
            = run time messaging
            = a wierd sence of data encapsulation (make an object the
              current object and all methods are those of that object).
            = garbage collection (could, and should) be considered for
              an OOPL
            = compiled & interpreted language.  after compiling the
              definition, results can be seen immediately.

    4) Overall impression...
        What a fantastic way of learning about Object Oriented
        programming.  I has features that many other so-called
        object-oriented languages do not have (major one is multiple
        inheritence).  Plus Logo is a wonderful way of first learning
        to program.  Logo can be used to teach children fundamentals
        of programming, while O-O Logo can be used to teach mom/dad
        fundamentals of object-oriented programming.  Okay, it may be
        a bit slow, but it feels good to be able to enter a definition
        and see the results fast.  A good interactive environment.
        Object Logo does not provide a large class of objects to work
        with, but there are enough to get started.  It has a good
        approach to using some Macintosh features such as windows and
        menus.  I wouldn't write a heavy-duty application in Object
        Logo, but it is a great learning tool.  I am teaching a class
        on Object-Oriented programming and I will definitely use
        Object Logo as a way of teaching multiple inheritance.  As a
        learning tool, Object Logo is fantastic!  As a plain vanilla
        Logo, again Object Logo is fantastic! (compared to other
        Logos, not necessarily on the Mac).  But for an application
        development language or prototyping language, it won't compare
        too well against other languages.


                                            Rickers