On Thursday, 96/10/24, Lee Wallace wrote to All about "Where do I
start ?" as follows:

LW> What software and documentation will I need to get me started ?

Hi Lee,

The documentation you need will depend upon which language you choose
for your programming. If you want to use a full-blown compiler
language (C/C++, PL/I, FORTRAN, etc.) then you will definitely need the
OS/2 Developer's Toolkit, which is supplied on the OS/2 Developer
Connection CD. This CD is a subscription service from IBM. It is also
supplied with IBM's compilers and an obsolete version is supplied with
Watcom's compilers. [If you choose a GNU compiler you get what you pay
for.]

LW> I can't program in C++ - yet but I guess it's about time I
LW> started. Are there any other powerful languages I can use?

PL/I is every bit as powerful as C++, and far more legible. I
currently work as a C++ developer, but I vastly prefer PL/I's syntax
and ease of optimisation. However, the IBM compiler is a
professional's tool and priced to match. [But then again, IBM's C++
compiler is not cheap either.]

LW> Is it possible to use BASIC to program for PM ?

Yes, IBM has a product called Visual Age for BASIC that includes a PM
generator. I don't know how much it costs, since I don't own a copy.

[Vested interest: I moderate the OS2REXX echo.]
You can also program for PM in REXX. This is by far the cheapest way
to start.

To begin with, the REXX interpreter is supplied as part of OS/2.
Therefore, your facility to create a wide variety of text mode
applications is already present.

You can buy Hockware's Vis Pro REXX Bronze for under US$60, which will
give you multi-threading and PM capabilities. Alternatively, you might
be able to pick up a copy of Watcom's VX-REXX very cheaply, since it
is an orphaned product now. Either way, you will be able to produce PM
apps without buying a compiler and without paying for the Dev Con CD.
[The toolkit is unnecessary for these REXX generators unless you decide
to write extension DLL's in a compiler language.]

As a result, I would recommend you try your hand with REXX first.
Indeed, you can start in text mode as soon as you are done reading
this message. ... :-)

Regards

Dave


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