mark@alberta.UUCP (Mark Green) (04/10/84)
Two observation on the use of keyword parameters in programming languages:
1) The format of parameters passed to applications programs in both UNIX
and CDC-NOS are essentially the same, so I don't see what the point
is. In fact most (if not all) CDC supplied programs use keyword
parameters, and have since at least 1971 (the first time I used a CDC6400).
2) A number of object oriented languages such as Smalltalk and EDL allow
this form of parameter passing. The original version of the PROSYS user
interface prototyping system (essentially a programming environment for
EDL) prompted the user for parameters whenever an object was created.
The new version of PROSYS will have a graphical editor that will provide
an even nicer environment. Details on both EDL and PROSYS can be found
in the Graphics Interface'82 proceedings.
Mark Green - Department of Computing Science, University of Albertadave@rocksvax.UUCP (Dave Sewhuk) (04/12/84)
Of course you could botch keywords like in CDC-NOS. I always has to
laugh at a job card where you had to say Tnnn,Cnnn for time and core
but Cnnn,Tnnn was an error!
Same problem with the fortrash PROGRAM card.
PROGRAM (input, output, tape98=input, tape99=output) OK
PROGRAM (input, output, tape99=output, tape98=input) causes bizzare error
at runtime.
Then there was a book of botchs called the file system, but I won't get into
that.....
--
Dave
Arpa: Sewhuk.HENR@PARC-MAXC.ARPA
uucp: {allegra, rochester, ritcv, ritvp, amd70, sunybcs}!rocksvax!dave