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From: reggie@pdnbah.UUCP (George Leach)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.misc,comp.software-eng
Subject: Re: Software Technology is NOT Primitive
Message-ID: <1709@pdn.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 3-Nov-87 08:31:12 EST
Article-I.D.: pdn.1709
Posted: Tue Nov  3 08:31:12 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 7-Nov-87 10:36:54 EST
References: <3405@ece-csc.UUCP> <638@its63b.ed.ac.uk> <1811@watcgl.waterloo.edu> <3603@sol.ARPA> <596@l.cc.purdue.edu> <1706@pdn.UUCP>
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Reply-To: reggie@pdnbah.UUCP (George Leach)
Organization: Paradyne Corporation, Largo, Florida
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Xref: mnetor comp.lang.misc:861 comp.software-eng:61

In article <1706@pdn.UUCP> alan@pdn.UUCP (0000-Alan Lovejoy) writes:
>I detect a basic philosophical disagreement over the purpose of an HLL
>in this discussion.........

       [stuff deleted.....]

>Of course, the problem can also be tackled by raising the abstraction
>level of HLL computational paradigms.  This leads to the problem
>of the oversized screw-driver:  it can be indispensible for some jobs
>but fail miserably for others.  What's needed is a tool chest which
>contains screw-drivers of every size (a language or languages that
>can operate on a wide range of abstraction levels, from bare hardware
>to referential transparency, polymorphism, data hiding and lambda
>functions).

      Unfortunately, more often than not a single tool is chosen with
which all work is performed!  Ever try to install a tape deck in your
car with a hammer?  The appropriate tool should be applied to the
appropriate job.  Different HLLs can be used for different pieces of 
a software system (provided they mesh well at the interfaces) in order
to take advantage of features to make life easier.  But it may even be
taken a step further.  If you find an organization that attempts to
prototype a system before the actual implementation work is undertaken,
many times the implementation language and the prototype language are
one and the same!  There are VHHL languages, such as SETL, which are 
intended to take the level of abstraction to a point where something
may be quickly prototyped, test, refined,.....  There are also VHHLs
that are used as specification languages in some circles.

Furthermore, from the ergonomics world we can learn from tool design.  
Biomechanical analysis is used to influence hand tool design, so that 
the tools are easier to use and reduce fatigue, making the worker more 
productive.  You can find some examples of this in software tools, EMACS
for example.  However, we still have a long way to go.  Perhaps AI will
help out here.  


>--alan@pdn


George W. Leach					Paradyne Corporation
{gatech,codas,ucf-cs}!usfvax2!pdn!reggie	Mail stop LF-207
Phone: (813) 530-2376				P.O. Box 2826
						Largo, FL  34649-2826