Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ucbvax!VUCTRVAX.BITNET!PETERSC0 From: PETERSC0@VUCTRVAX.BITNET.UUCP Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple Subject: "Clear, simple languages" Message-ID: <8705280131.aa03894@SMOKE.BRL.ARPA> Date: Thu, 28-May-87 01:21:00 EDT Article-I.D.: SMOKE.8705280131.aa03894 Posted: Thu May 28 01:21:00 1987 Date-Received: Sat, 30-May-87 00:40:01 EDT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Distribution: world Organization: The ARPA Internet Lines: 20 > From: arpa%"jperry@sri-unix.arpa" 27-MAY-1987 22:48 > It is interesting to note that you list Lisp, Bliss, and FP in the > "clear, simple language" category that you imply I am supporting. Actually > I find Lisp, Bliss, and FP to be abominations. Their simple syntax is > a misleading disguise for they lead to programs whose semantics are > virtually unintelligible. Hmmm... It seems to me (philosophically speaking), that almost any language can be either readable or nonreadable depending on the style of the person doing the coding and on the familiarity of the reader with the language. Pascal enforces a (very) few rules of style, as does C. I can write things in either language which are readable or unreadable depending on my intent. My lisp has had to be readable for classwork, but I have seen a lot of strange-looking code out there. Doesn't it all depend on the coder in the final analysis? -Chris