Re: Scripting vs. Programming language vs. 4GL?

TDARCOS@MCIMAIL.COM (Paul Robinson) writes:


> The programs were always interpreted,
>*just like Basic* and only the source text is kept.


If this is intended to refer to BASIC (note: strictly speaking, BASIC
is an acronym and, as such, should be in caps) only under DOS/VSE,
then you may be right.


However, it's a popular misconception that BASIC is always
interpreted, or even that it was intended to be interpreted.


Kemeny and Kurtz are on record as saying that they intended BASIC to
be compiled, and, at Dartmouth at least, it was. (Can you tell I'm an
alum? :-)


    -- David Wright, Hitachi Computer Products (America), Inc. Waltham, MA
          wright@hicomb.hi.com
[Back in '75 when I played with Dartmouth Basic, the compiler was so fast
that there was little point to keeping object code. Didn't need a linker
either, until they did PL/I. -John]
--

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