Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!rutgers!rochester!pt.cs.cmu.edu!a.gp.cs.cmu.edu!spiro
From: spiro@a.gp.cs.cmu.edu (Spiro Michaylov)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.prolog
Subject: Catalog of Application Programs
Message-ID: <3589@pt.cs.cmu.edu>
Date: 16 Nov 88 15:56:51 GMT
Organization: Carnegie-Mellon University, CS/RI
Lines: 34

I guess this has probably been discussed before, but I'd like to know if
anybody has tried to make a list of REAL application programs written in
PROLOG. By "REAL" I mean that a PROLOG program is being used by somebody to
solve a problem, rather than to illustrate/teach the features of PROLOG,
test/benchmark a compiler, to prototype something that is currently being
rewritten in IBM 370 assembler, or just to try out an idea. Why such a strict
definition? Because I don't want outsiders who read such a list to think that
we're clutching at straws.

I'm interested in this because there still seem to be people around who claim
that few such programs exist. I think they're wrong, but I'd like to be sure.
Additionally, such a list could be used to persuade more people to take PROLOG
seriously.

If no catalog of such application programs exists I'd like to compile one.
Each entry consisting of a couple of paragraphs briefly describing the
problem, why PROLOG was used, which PROLOG and on what machine, what problems
had to be overcome, etc. I realize that industrial secrecy & national security
concerns will cut down the number of entries, and some people will only be
able to supply limited information, but I hope we can still get something
worthwhile.

Perhaps we can just discuss whether it has/can/should be done for a while and
then if appropriate I'll repost with a request for submissions. However, let's
try to limit the scope of the discussion -- I can just see my request being
buried under dozens of messages about PROLOG's position in the world. Such a
broad discussion might be worthwhile, but I have something more specific in
mind.

Thanks in advance,

Spiro Michaylov.
Carnegie Mellon Computer Science.
spiro@cs.cmu.edu [(412) 268 3042]
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