[Info-vax] VMS Software Q1 '23 Update

[Johnny Billquist]

On 2023-01-29 04:44, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
> On 1/28/2023 10:39 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
>> On 1/28/2023 8:28 PM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
>>> One of the absolute FIRST things that I was told about floating point
>>> variables in my first programming class was to NEVER use them to 
>>> represent
>>> money.
>>
>> What if you didn't have a choice?
>>
>> RSTS/E V04b
>>
>> Signed word integers
>> Strings
>> Single and double D-float
>>
>> That's all there was ...
> 
> There is always integers and implied decimal.
> 
> Not fun though.
> 
> And one need an integer with enough bits ...
> 
> Could PDP-11 do 32 bit integers?

Slightly wrong question. Of course the machine could do 32-bit integers, 
or any other number of bits, if you want to. But the question really is 
about the language you use, and how much effort it is.

RSTS/E BASIC+ do not have 32-bit integers. But it do have string math.

I can't remember the limit, but I think it's something like 31 decimal 
digits. Which should be plenty for everyone.

   Johnny