[Info-vax] OO version of Macro-32, was: Re: CRTL and RMS vs SSIO

[abrsvc]

On Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 2:49:54 PM UTC-4, Simon Clubley wrote:
> On 2021-10-13, Stephen Hoffman <seao... at hoffmanlabs.invalid> wrote: 
> > 
> > Not that I'd expect to ever meet Macroo32. ? 
> > 
> 
> :-) 
> 
> What would an object orientated version of Macro-32 even look like ? :-) 
> 
> Anyone want to have a guess at possible syntax options ? :-) 
> 
> BTW, you could always add some structured language constructs to 
> the Macro-32 compiler that could get translated into normal 
> Macro-32 code before compiling it: 
> 
> .while(R0 != 0) 
> { 
> [Normal Macro-32 code] 
> } 
> 
> or: 
> 
> .if(R0 & 1) 
> { 
> [Normal Macro-32 code] 
> } 
> .else 
> { 
> [Normal Macro-32 code] 
> } 
> 
> or: 
> 
> .for(R0 = 0; R0 < R1; R0++) 
> { 
> [Normal Macro-32 code] 
> } 
> 
> :-) 
> 
> Simon. 
> 
> -- 
> Simon Clubley, clubley at remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP 
> Walking destinations on a map are further away than they appear.

Seriously??

I beleive that the comment was made in jest.  No one in their right mind would ever expect t see an OO Macro.
The MACRO32 compiler was created  in order to simplify the port to Alpha initially and to allow for the "easy" port for customers as well.
I spent over 2 years working with customers in this role both prior to and after the public release of Alpha.  With the one exception of a customer CLI written entirely in MACRO32, most customers had small amounts of code in this language that required some change, most of which was differences in module headers (e.g. entry points and save masks).  Yes, there were other changes as well, but are not worth enumerating here.  

I know of a couple of systems written in Macro32 that still run today even on IA64 boxes.  The cost to re-write was not worth it considering that the compiler existed.  I don't know of any NEW code being written other than procedurally required updates to existing systems.

So no, I don't ever expect to see OO  at this level. It makes no sense.  There are existing languages that handle this at a higher level where the concept belongs.