[Info-vax] Programming languages on VMS

[DaveFroble]

Bill Gunshannon wrote:
> On 01/26/2018 03:36 PM, Johnny Billquist wrote:
>> On 2018-01-24 18:26, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
>>> Given what it was designed for BASIC was never taken seriously.  Even
>>> after ANSIfication it was still not overly practical as most versions
>>> were interpreted and not compiled. What data type of none-integer does
>>> BASIC support that can do calculations with decimals without the
>>> cumulative error common to floating point?
>>
>> Is that a trick question?
>> BASIC can actually do arithmetic on strings, with arbitrary precision.
>> And that's been in several different BASIC dialects I've played with.
> 
> But the problem with BASIC is every one is different.  Not the kind
> of language I would be betting my business on today.
> 
>>
>>  From the BP2 help:
>>
>>    FUNCTIONS
>>
>>      BUILT-IN
>>
>>        SUM$
>>
>>   The SUM$ function returns a string whose value is the sum of two  
>> numeric
>>   strings.
>>
>>   Format
>>
>>       str-vbl = SUM$(str-exp1, str-exp2)
>>
>>   Example
>>
>>   600    Sigma$ = SUM$("234.444", A$)
>>
>>
>> You also have DIF$, PROD$ and QUO$.
> 
> Totally unique to DEC.  Later RSTS, RSX and then VMS.  I have
> worked with a number of versions of BASIC and no others did it.
> 
> Considering that VMS BASIC has the DECIMAL type makes one wonder
> why they keep STRING Arithmetic.
> 
> bill
> 
> 
> bill
> 
> 

Once it's in there, it may be more trouble to rip it out, and then there are 
possible customers using the capability.

So what if it's DEC specific.  Many DEC specific things were / are better than 
anything else available.  Why would anyone want to choose lowest common 
denominator when there is better available.  Your argument makes no sense, 
unless you expect the DEC stuff to go away, which, was an issue for a while.

Do you choose your cars based upon conformity to a Yugo?

Do you do ANYTHING based upon conformity to "lowest common denominator"?

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
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