rrw@naucse.UUCP (Robert Wier) (05/18/89)
The SNOBOL4 Language for the Apple Macintosh ============================================ MaxSPITBOL is a high-performance implementation of the SNOBOL4 programming language for the Apple Macintosh(r) computer. MaxSPITBOL is particularly useful for pattern matching, ``text crunching,'' and all non-numeric computations, including: * Conversion, reformatting and analysis of text * Typesetting and publishing * Artificial intelligence and expert systems * Complex pattern matching and recognition * Natural language translation * Compiler protyping * Literature and music analysis Language Features Include . . . ------------------------------- * Fast execution speed: times equivalent to SPITBOL on a DEC 8600 (performance times using a Mac II). Typical statement execution times are 75-150 microseconds. The BREAK function will scan 225,000 characters per second (440,000 c.p.s. with a one- character argument). * Fast compilation speed: 20,000-30,000 statements per minute * Full features of the latest version of Macro SPITBOL version 3.6, including built-in SORT functions, random-access I/O, CODE and EVAL functions, and a recursive-descent pattern matcher * 32-bit integer and 64-bit real numbers * Automatic storage allocation and fast garbage collection * Ability to access files at the byte-stream level for system-type applications * Workspace size and maximum string length limited only by available memory Mac-Specific Features Include . . . ----------------------------------- * A multi-windowed editor with fully integrated development environment * File-Windows reroutes file I/O to on-screen windows for debugging * MultiFinder friendly--MaxSPITBOL can run in the background * Launch other applications when running under MultiFinder * On-line help system with language reference * Uses 68020-specific integer arithmetic instructions if available * Directly accesses the 68881 coprocessor for fastest possible computation with real numbers (the Macintosh's built-in SANE library is used if the 68881 is unavailable) * Optional use of Macintosh international routines for lexical comparison and sorting with non-ASCII collation sequences * Access to file dialogs and alerts * Documentation includes a thorough tutorial and reference manual-- everything you need to learn and use this powerful language Compatibility with SNOBOL4 . . . -------------------------------- MaxSPITBOL is highly compatible with SNOBOL4. Most SNOBOL4 programs run unaltered, or with minimal changes to INPUT/OUTPUT associations. Extensions include: * Built in sort feature--SORT and RSORT * Error recovery and exception handling--SETEXIT * Additional pattern functions--BREAKX and FENCE * Additional string-handling primitives--LEQ, LGE, LLT, LNE, LPAD, REVERSE, RPAD, and SUBSTR * Direct-access I/O support--SET * Additional numeric functions--ATAN, CHOP, COS, EXP, LN, SIN, SQRT, TAN, X**Y for real Y * Symbolic dump of array and table contents * INCLUDE control statement to incorporate source library files * Source line number and file name tracking for error messages * Access tracing (activated on reference to variable) * Selection feature (simple If/Then/Else, ``or'' function on predicates) * Assignment and pattern matching can occur within expressions * Direct, simple access to keyboard/ display via TERMINAL variable * Use of lower case permitted for keywords and other constructions * Statement profiler for program optimization System Requirements . . . ------------------------- * MaxSPITBOL will run on all Macintosh computers except those with a 64K ROM * Minimum RAM required is 512K bytes * System version 4.1 or above * A hard disk is not required MaxSPITBOL Price . . . ---------------------- * $195 plus air shipping ($6.50 48-state U.S.; $10 Alaska, Hawaii, Canada; $30 U.K, Europe except France; $35 Australia, Far East except Japan, New Zealand; $40 France, Japan) * Payment by check, money order, MasterCard, Visa or American Express. Checks must be in U.S. funds, payable on a U.S. bank. Other Products . . . -------------------- * SPITBOL-68K for UNIX workstations such as Sun 2 & 3, Apollo 3000, HP 350, NCR Tower, Unisys 5000, Definicon DSI-785, and WICAT * SNOBOL4+ for all MS-DOS systems * 32-bit, native mode SPITBOL for 80386 systems--Summer, 1989 * ProIcon--Macintosh standalone version of the Icon programming langauge--May 15, 1989 * All SNOBOL4 books in print, including ``Algorithms in SNOBOL4'' by James Gimpel. Catspaw, Inc., P.O. Box 1123, Salida, Colorado 81201 U.S.A. Telephone: 719-539-3884 E-Mail: {uunet | allegra | noao}!arizona!cats!mark or: emmer@arizona.edu -------------------------------- submitted by: -Bob Wier at Flagstaff, Arizona Northern Arizona University ...arizona!naucse!rrw | BITNET: WIER@NAUVAX | *usual disclaimers* I have been a beta tester of MaxSPITBOL...