[Info-vax] DCL's flaws (both scripting and UI)

[johnson.eric at gmail.com]

On Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at 6:34:33 AM UTC-5, Jan-Erik Soderholm wrote:

> No, it doesn't! There is no data type like the Python "dict" i Basic!
> You have to write your own routines using the available (simpler)
> data types.

I think his basic point (no pun intended!) is that the tools are good
enough for him so therefore they should be good enough for everyone.

It is true that there isn't a computational problem in the world that eludes
the power of DEC Basic. But that's true for pretty much any programming
language. I don't think anyone here is saving that they have a problem that
DEC Basic can't solve. I think most of us would simply find it onerous given
the expressive power that is now available... largely for free!

I would imagine that even Froble could concede that there was a time 
that he looked forward to new features added to his trusty DEC Basic toolset.
I would hope that familiarity with that excitement could enable one to understand why others might be drawn to the features of newer languages.

EJ