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 Alberta
dave@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