[Info-vax] VAX Macro to C conversion

[Dave Froble]

On 7/9/2019 1:55 PM, Simon Clubley wrote:
> 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 ?

No fair!  That was the question I was reserving for you if you made any 
such claims.

:-(



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