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From: tron1@tronsbox.UUCP (HIM)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.rexx
Subject: Re: A Suggestion For Adding Function Pointers To REXX
Message-ID: <25e33dc4:42.2comp.lang.rexx;1@tronsbox.UUCP>
Date: 22 Feb 90 03:00:22 GMT
References: <1990Feb9.181153.417@ultra.com> <X5W12B3xds13@ficc.uu.net>
Lines: 61

>In article <1990Feb9.181153.417@ultra.com> hayes@ultra.com (John Hayes)
>writes:
>> As I see it, using REXX as anything but a quick prototyping language and
>> for macro definition under XEDIT, we are just bound to waste more cpu cycles
>> by not having those applications written in a true, optimizable language.

POSSIBLY in those situations where REXX is >JUST< a glamorous way to write
batch style scripts that would be true.   

BUT , REXX (specifically AMIGA REXX) is so much more. In AREXX , 90% of the
work in a program is done through messages to C or whatever compiled user
programs.

Consider the case where on my Amiga , I would write a REXX script that will
take the output of uutraf (a UUCP profiler) that comes over a terminal
program , and DYNAMICALLY build a graph of that data in a graphics packadge
(the wonder of Multi-Tasking) by the process of ..

1) Parsing the incomming data from a message port attached to the terminal 
   program...

2) Sending messages like "DRAW LINE 100,100 200,200" to my paint program.


This is >SO< simple and >SO< usefull as an interpreted language (or a
compiler for all I care .. but REXX rather than >C<) that the wasted CPU
cycles are not a problem.

(FYI - the overhead in data structure initializion for IPC on AMiga is such
that I wouldnt want to do it for something this simple when the resident
REXX module already does it.)


>interpreted language.  A similar parallel can be drawn to (gasp!) the BASIC 
>programming language.  

Wich in it's modern form is a Compiled, structured, completely useful
language. (A bit wordy).  Languages evolve.

>BASIC was for many of the recent generation, a quick and easy way to learn a
>lot of bad programming habits.  Most of the computers (espicially micro 

But no longer.

Basic has done more during its evolution than many suspect , and REXX does
the same thing (on the Amiga) for MULTI-PROCESSING. The ability for AREXX to
control multiple INDEPENDANT applications is staggering.


Come to think of it , there had better be a UNIX implementation of >A<REXX
soon!

****************************************************************************
Everything I say is Copr.  1990, except the stuff I stole from someone else
and the stuff I don't want responsibility for.
 
Kenneth J. Jamieson: Xanadu Enterprises Inc. "Professional Amiga Software"
      UUCP: tron1@tronsbox.UUCP  BEST PATH ---> uunet!tronsbox!tron1 
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