[AccessD] OT: Memory Lane. IBM Key Punch

"Real programmers don't use compilers; they write compilers."
So saideth a tee shirt that a friend of mine (compiler-author --
coincidence? I think not) still wears.
Incidentally, anyone here ever use Framework? IMO this was the finest
application software ever written. Its programming language (FRED) was
pretty much LISP, with a few syntax changes here and there. I loved
Framework but haven't progressed beyond version 4 (it's still there and
still in use, and I think they are up to V.6 now, but obtaining a copy is
non-trivial).
A.

-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of John Colby
Sent: December 30, 2005 10:37 AM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: Memory Lane. IBM Key Punch

>I just took C++ for a spin; man is it ugly.

ROTFL.  You think it is ugly now, you should have seen it in the late 80s.
I really started programming in earnest in Borland's Turbo Pascal in the
early 80s.  By the late 80s Borland had a 'C' compiler.  Whereas Pascal is a
tightly typed language, the 'C' versions of the day made no effort to do
type checking for parameters and such.  It was "intentional" (or so they
said) since "REAL programmers" didn't need the compiler forcing them to do
silly things like making sure that the variable type passed in was the
variable type expected.  So you could pass in a float to an int and the
compiler would just do a type conversion for you, no warning, no nothing.

>I hate having to work that hard to write a program.

Uhhhh... Yep!  

Of course you aren't a "REAL programmer" if you don't LOVE pain and
suffering, and what better language to inflict pain and suffering than 'C'?.
I'll bet you don't like pizza and mountain dew at 3 am while coding like a
mad man either!

John W. Colby
www.ColbyConsulting.com 

Contribute your unused CPU cycles to a good cause:
http://folding.stanford.edu/
-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Jim Dettman
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 10:17 AM
To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: Memory Lane. IBM Key Punch

Gustav,

<<I have only "tasted" LISP. All I remember is a feeling of the wonderful
different syntax.
Has anyone here learned and used it?>>

  Haven't myself, but I know someone that uses it quite a bit.  Up until a
few years ago, it was widely used as the control language for Auto CAD.  The
military was big into LISP at one time. Not sure if they still are.

  I heard it was off the beaten path, but never had the chance to try it
out.

  I just took C++ for a spin; man is it ugly.  I'm sure I don't appreciate
some of the finer points it offers yet, but so far, I don't like it.  I hate
having to work that hard to write a program.  The case sensitivity drives me
absolutely nuts and I still haven't figured out any justification for having
it other then to make your life miserable.

Jim.

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