[Info-vax] VAX Macro to C conversion

[Simon Clubley]

On 2019-07-09, Dave Froble <davef at tsoft-inc.com> wrote:
> On 7/9/2019 3:08 AM, Simon Clubley wrote:
>> On 2019-07-08, Dave Froble <davef at tsoft-inc.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Macro-32 is an assembler on the VAX.  On Alpha, itanic, and x86 is is a
>>> compiled language, and not anything you'd want to use on the non-VAX
>>> systems.  Just ask John.  It exists strictly for existing code.
>>>
>>
>> It's nothing to do with whether it's an assembler or a compiler.
>>
>> It's to do with the fact that assembly language is so low level
>> and error prone even when compared to C.
>
> One might argue that "low level" maybe has less chance for errors.
>

You are kidding right ?

> One might also argue that C is rather prone to errors.
>

Yes it is unfortunately and other languages have thankfully improved on it.

It doesn't change the fact that C, with all its well known flaws, is
still a more robust language than assembly language to write code in.

>>> However, if your target was a VAX, (not available anymore), it might be
>>> a viable choice, or not.
>>>
>>
>> These days, the only thing anyone uses assembly language for in
>> new code are the small segments which cannot be coded even in C.
>
> "anyone" ??????
>
> It is rather amusing when people state their personal opinions as 
> universal.  Can I then claim Basic as the best language to use?
>

The difference is that I can look at other operating systems to
back up that comment. You don't see major portions of a Unix/Linux
kernel being written in assembly language for example. Even VMS now
has new stuff being mainly written in C or better.

What you see is assembly language being used for small bits of
architecture specific code and C or better being used for the
rest of the kernel and user space code.

Oh and I didn't say that C was the best language to use as it most
certainly is not. What I said is that it's a better language than
assembly language to write new code in and that is true.

Any claim that Basic is the best language to use would have to show
how the language is being widely used to solve problems in all areas
of the computing world and how testing and analysis has shown that
it is better than all the other options out there.

Do you know of any such testing and analysis ?

Simon.

-- 
Simon Clubley, clubley at remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
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