info-mac@uw-beaver (01/28/85)
From: Wang Zeep <G.ZEEP%MIT-EECS@MIT-MC.ARPA> I just borrowed a copy of Experlogo and I'm posting a microreview Good Points: This Logo has most of the meaty functions from a real Lisp. It includes lots of array stuff, properties and even FUNCALL. The user interface is fairly nice, with an editor window and a listener window. Applications may make multiple graphics windows. There is support for the quickdraw graphics part of the tool box. Bunny graphics support is a faster version of the turtle in most LOGOS, but these bunnies can be 3d and mapped to a sphere. (Good for maps and such). Code runs very fast. Bad Points: Error messages are cryptic Apparently 128K macs can get GC problems. Math Routines are not bullet-proof (Try incrementing an integer past 32768!) The compilation phase is slow (the first time you run some code). Overall: I really like it so far, except for some speed issues. (The program does take an extra chunk of time to run the first time -- it's building a memory map of some sort.) The true LISP part is pretty nice, but I wish they had simply ignored MACLISP syntax when they borrowed functions.(RPLACA should have been set-first, or somesuch). The price is right and they encourage you to make (2) copies for your own use. Copy protection is a "validate-once" scheme! I'll try to put some real code in this weekend, but for $129 (list) this could be a real bargain (for a 512K Mac -- 128K Macs do have \ memory problems.) This program doesn't compile final applications (no menu bars, etc.) but it is pretty spiffy. Wait 'til I can beat on it, wz -------