>>> Continued from previous message
I don't think I would ever consider moving to PL/I.  It is a
very old compiler that dates to the late 1960's - tho it might have been
updated to include OOPS since then.

I think the main reasons for moving to a completely different compiler
must have a sound basis - one reason, for development, being that
healthy 3rd party libraries are obtainable - and another being that the
compiler be up-to-date (aka. implements OOPS); or, as in your case, to
gain significant precision.

Since you are already famailar with Pascal you might consider looking
into Modula II, since I have been told it is a "grown up" Pascal.  Still
it is not as popular as Pascal and this might have some serious
drawbacks as far as 3rd party support libraries.

To my knowledge, both Pascal and C have a healthy population
of programmers to draw upon as and when necessary.  The population of
C++ is growing, but my impression is that the demand is high and the
supply is low relatively speaking - right now.

ES>I think that sooner or later you will have to bite the bullet and change
ES>languages.  The sooner you start, the sooner you can become productive.  The
ES>first language I learned, not considering binary machine instructions, was
ES>ALGOL - don't see *that* around much any more - and I remember using punched
ES>paper tape and patchcords.  I see Pascal travelling toward the same obscurit
ES>and that's not where I intend to be.

Surely to be avoided if at all possible, I agree.  My newer apps will be
in C++.  I am already a 'C' expert, and I am working on becoming a C++
expert.

ES>LR> I hear all the C++ compilers are slow and memory hogs in both
ES>LR> compilation and execution states.

ES>WATCOM and IBM compilers are very happy in developing with 16MB RAM, and I h
ES>heard of success with 8.  (My least-capable machine has 32.)  Compile time i
ES>not fast, compared to Borland, but this is of no consequence.  With OS/2, on
ES>can do other stuff, or take the needed coffee break.  I find that these
ES>compilers produce very good optimized executables - approaching that of
ES>hand-optimized ASM.

   I am from Missouri, and I have been in this business too long to
   believe such 'old' type claims.  I will believe this claim about
   C++ or any higher level language when I see conclusive proof.  :)

ES>LR> What do you see for the OS/2 market in comparison for Windows
ES>LR> and NT for the next year or more?

ES>For the shrink-wrap crowd, there will always be DOS and Windows; not knowing
ES>any better, these folks will continue to be satisfied with the mediocrity
ES>engendered by Microsoft.

I agree DOS and Windows will be around for many years but "always" is a
very long time.  :)  Still it is nice to see someone else who believes,
as I do, that DOS and Windows will be around for some years - and thus
there WILL remain a demand for apps written for these platforms.  Whew.
:)

I like MS's "mediocrity".  It leaves some possibility of coming up with
"better" products - and maybe becoming bigger than MS.  :)

ES>However, as OS/2 gains acceptance, more quality software
ES>written for it will appear.  I rather doubt that it will gain the
ES>dominance enjoyed by the Redmond bunch - I don't care, and many share
ES>my opinion.  Whenever I need software, and it is not commercially
ES>available or poor quality, I write it myself.  For OS/2. ___

I tend to believe that OS/2 will eventually come to dominate the
multi-tasking market place.  Of course, this is based on one fact and
one hope.  The fact is that OS/2 is a vastly superiour os to anything MS
has come out with yet - IMHO.  IBM is certainly way ahead of MS in this
regard - and they tend to like to keep their lead on competitors.  IBM
is certainly capable of doing so - and inclined.

The hope is that ordinary consummers will be able to master the
complexities of OS/2 that even the Pros are werestling with right now.

Or, that IBM will somehow overcome these complexities for OS/2 and make
it more palatable for ordinary consummers.

Right now, for developers like me, OS/2 seems a great platform to
develop apps for several popular platforms.

Regards, -= Lou =-


--- WM v3.10/91-0154