Xref: utzoo comp.arch:4515 comp.lang.misc:1509
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!tektronix!orca!tekecs!frip!andrew
From: andrew@frip.gwd.tek.com (Andrew Klossner)
Newsgroups: comp.arch,comp.lang.misc
Subject: All things to all people?  (Was "Re: Universal OS (was Re: Survey of")
Message-ID: <9951@tekecs.TEK.COM>
Date: 27 Apr 88 18:09:14 GMT
References: <769@imagine.PAWL.RPI.EDU> <76700017@uiucdcsp> <843@actnyc.UUCP> <762@l.cc.purdue.edu>
Sender: nobody@tekecs.TEK.COM
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville, Oregon
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[]

	"I believe that a fair language can be developed which is close
	to universal, but it will have to be almost totally flexible
	... We should now be striving for that flexibility.  It will
	help, but will not solve the problem.  The language, shell,
	window, editor, etc. developers should try to find out
	everything that a programming genius would consider including
	(and do not rely on what one genius wants; ask everybody) and
	try to include it _all_."

The fallacy that a successful product can be "all things to all people"
has pretty much been demonstrated.  In trying to do everything, you end
up not doing any one thing well.

In reviewing the history of this idea, a good place to start is with
the language PL/I, whose designers embraced this goal.

  -=- Andrew Klossner   (decvax!tektronix!tekecs!andrew)       [UUCP]
                        (andrew%tekecs.tek.com@relay.cs.net)   [ARPA]