[comp.lang.modula2] environment for modula-2?

dalal@topaz.rutgers.edu (Mukesh Dalal) (08/17/87)

I am looking for references on the programming environments available
for modula-2. What are their major concerns specific to this language
(like, have they increased the functionality of the language in some
way, etc.?)? 

Also, thanks to all who replied to my earlier queries on modula-2. 

Thanks in advance,
-- 

Mukesh Dalal				Voice: (201)-878-1763
Dept. of Computer Sc. (Rutgers)		Net: dalal@topaz.rutgers.edu

	"To every action, there is an OVER-REACTION" 

heiser@ethz.UUCP (Gernot Heiser) (08/19/87)

In article <14025@topaz.rutgers.edu> dalal@topaz.rutgers.edu (Mukesh Dalal) writes:
>
>I am looking for references on the programming environments available
>for modula-2.

OSSI (IEEE  Software, Nov. 1986, p 18-26)  is a standard  interface to overcome
the problem of machine and vendor specific libraries for Modula-2.  At least as
long as there is no international standard for Modula-2 libraries, OSSI is your
best bet when writing programs  that are   supposed  to run   on more than  one
machine.

OSSI contains a kernel that supports the usual functions of a library like I/O,
string handling, memory  management and mathematical  functions. Unlike   other
libaries it also  contains  some lower level  functions like packing of numbers
and a  hardware  and operating  system independent  scheme  for accessing files
using logical file names.

An optional part (optional since it requires special  hardware) supports mouse,
menus, fonts,  and   graphic on  a bitmapped    screen.  It defines   a  system
independent program interface to a system  dependent user interface. The system
is  designed in a  way  that the user interface follows  the conventions on the
host system. This allows to write portable  programs that appear  as if written
specifically for a particular system.

The OSSI  kernel is running  on  VAX/VMS, VAX/UNIX,  Sun,   Macintosh,  MS-DOS,
IBM-PC/RT, Lilith   and Ceres  and   is currently being  ported  to Xenix.  The
optional part is running on Sun, Macintosh and Lilith with a IBM-PC/GEM version
currently being implemented.

For  more information  order Report #  79 (Biagioni,  Heiser, Hinrichs, Muller:
OSSI ...) from
   Institut fuer Informatik
   ETH-Zentrum
   8092 Zurich
   Switzerland
-- 
Gernot Heiser                      Phone:       +41 1/256 23 48
Institute for Integrated Systems   CSNET/ARPA:  heiser@ifi.ethz.ch@relay.cs.net
ETH Zuerich                        EARN/BITNET: GRIDFILE@CZHETH5A
CH-8092 Zuerich, Switzerland       EUNET/UUCP:  {seismo,...}!mcvax!ethz!heiser