[comp.sys.mac.programmer] New programming language: SCRIPTIC

vila@wmt.UUCP (Vincent van der Laan) (09/20/89)

Hi there!

A while ago I saw something pretty neat, which might interest you.

It is a new computer language called SCRIPTIC that greatly simplifies
parallel and event driven programming. It is ideally suited for the
construction of interactive (WIMPS) applications, compilers, simulation 
programs etc. 

The best thing about it is that is it an extension to the languages C,
Pascal or Modula-2, which means that your knowledge of these languages
remains usefull and that your program libraries remain accessible.

SCRIPTIC is founded on the theory of process algebra. It has
a simple syntax and the operators are quite intuitive. Programs look
very elegant and are highly readable.

SCRIPTIC development software consists of a preprocessor (which
generates C, Pascal or Modula-2) and runtime support.

Just one simple example to get you interested: the following program
prints 'Hello' when you press 'h' or 'Goodbye' when you press 'g'.

main = Key('h'!); {printf("Hello")} | Key('g'!); {printf("Goodbye")}

Explanation:
! indicates demand
; indicates sequential action
| indicates exclusive or
{ } enclose native code (C, Pascal or Modula-2)

This expression either waits for (demands) the key 'h' to be pressed in 
which case it prints 'Hello' (notice native C code between { } braces) 
or (vertical bar | ) it waits for the 'g' to be pressed in which case it
prints 'Goodbye'.  

First release is in fall 1989 with versions for Apple Macintosh, SUN 
and IBM PC.

For information you can contact the author:

Andre van Delft
Delftware Technology
Gentsestraat 165
2587 HP  The Hague
Holland
Phone: 31-70 558739

Andre will be at the Macintosh Developers Conference in Paris 
(September 25, 26, 27). So if your there don't hesitate to drop in
at his booth. You'll like SCRIPTIC !! 

Greetings,

Vincent van der Laan


Disclaimer: the company I work for has nothing to do with SCRIPTIC. 
Andre happens to be a friend of mine but I really think he has made a 
neat product.

ech@cbnewsk.ATT.COM (ned.horvath) (09/21/89)

From article <327@wmt.UUCP>, by vila@wmt.UUCP (Vincent van der Laan):
> It is a new computer language called SCRIPTIC that greatly simplifies
> parallel and event driven programming...

> Just one simple example to get you interested: the following program
> prints 'Hello' when you press 'h' or 'Goodbye' when you press 'g'.
> 
> main = Key('h'!); {printf("Hello")} | Key('g'!); {printf("Goodbye")}

I think I need a more compelling example.  Shucks:

	for (;;) {
		switch (getc()) {
		case 'h':
			printf ("Hello");
			break;
		case 'g':
			printf ("Goodbye");
			break;
		default:
			continue:
		}
		break;
	}
Now, this may be a bit more verbose, but the flow is pretty obvious, the
extensibility (to have more than h and g) is pretty obvious, and I'm a
bit uncomfortable with the operator binding ( ; has higher precedence than
| has higher precedence than =.  This could be interesting...).

Don't take me wrong: this may be a step forward.  But you need to show a
bit more...

=Ned Horvath=

vila@wmt.UUCP (Vincent van der Laan) (09/22/89)

In article <1052@cbnewsk.ATT.COM>, ech@cbnewsk.ATT.COM (ned.horvath) writes:
> From article <327@wmt.UUCP>, by vila@wmt.UUCP (Vincent van der Laan):
> > It is a new computer language called SCRIPTIC that greatly simplifies
> > parallel and event driven programming...
> 
> > Just one simple example to get you interested: the following program
> > prints 'Hello' when you press 'h' or 'Goodbye' when you press 'g'.
> > 
> > main = Key('h'!); {printf("Hello")} | Key('g'!); {printf("Goodbye")}
>

Lots of stuff deleted...
 
> 
>You need to show a
>bit more...
> 
I agree that the example is far to simple. Andre has implemented the famous
sample editor program (Inside Macintosh vol. 1) with lots of comments for
a tutorial he is writing. I'll post it as soon as I get back from the 
Mac conference. If you post your oldfashioned US (?) mail adress he will send
you some documentation, if you're interested.


> =Ned Horvath=

Greetings,

Vincent.

Disclaimer: I'm still thinking about an original disclaimer. Until then
standard disclaimers apply.