Re: simple vs complex languages

Scott Moore <scott.moore6@attbi.com>
6 May 2003 01:07:51 -0400

          From comp.compilers

Related articles
Re: simple vs complex languages Steve_Lipscombe@amat.com (2003-04-27)
Re: simple vs complex languages rpboland@math.uwaterloo.ca (Ralph P. Boland) (2003-04-27)
Re: simple vs complex languages alex_mcd@btopenworld.com (Alex McDonald) (2003-04-27)
Re: simple vs complex languages basile@starynkevitch.net (Basile STARYNKEVITCH) (2003-05-05)
Re: simple vs complex languages rafe@cs.mu.oz.au (2003-05-05)
Re: simple vs complex languages hat@se-46.wpa.wtb.tue.nl (Albert Hofkamp) (2003-05-06)
Re: simple vs complex languages Robert@Knighten.org (2003-05-06)
Re: simple vs complex languages scott.moore6@attbi.com (Scott Moore) (2003-05-06)
Re: simple vs complex languages tmk@netvision.net.il (2003-05-06)
Re: simple vs complex languages nmm1@cus.cam.ac.uk (2003-05-12)
Re: simple vs complex languages George.Russell@cis.strath.ac.uk (George Richard Russell) (2003-05-12)
Re: simple vs complex languages torbenm@diku.dk (2003-05-12)
Re: simple vs complex languages spencer@panix.com (David Spencer) (2003-05-12)
Re: simple vs complex languages thant@acm.org (Thant Tessman) (2003-05-12)
[31 later articles]
| List of all articles for this month |

From: Scott Moore <scott.moore6@attbi.com>
Newsgroups: comp.compilers
Date: 6 May 2003 01:07:51 -0400
Organization: AT&T Broadband
References: 03-04-095
Keywords: design
Posted-Date: 06 May 2003 01:07:51 EDT

Steve_Lipscombe@amat.com wrote:


> If a language is designed with a simple, consistent syntax then it is
> not only easier for the compiler to parse, but (more importantly) it
> is easier for humans to understand and therefore easier to get
> right. Can you guess I like Pascal, which was designed from the outset
> for a single pass RDP?


In virtually any field of human speciality, a more precise language
becomes the norm, even if no machines are involved, from medical
professions, to legal, and science. Finally math, even though it was
originally only for human consumption, is very precise.


Computers WILL do a good job of understanding english, but computers
won't be programmed that way. If you had a computer that understood
english tomorrow, and was itself a good emulation of a human, you
would find a more precise language than english to tell it what to do.


--
The fact that Pascal has been repeatedly raped does not make it any less
virtuous.


Post a followup to this message

Return to the comp.compilers page.
Search the comp.compilers archives again.