Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site watdcsu.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!watdcsu!haapanen From: haapanen@watdcsu.UUCP (Tom Haapanen [DCS]) Newsgroups: net.micro.pc Subject: Re: APL Query Message-ID: <330@watdcsu.UUCP> Date: Tue, 31-Jul-84 18:25:50 EDT Article-I.D.: watdcsu.330 Posted: Tue Jul 31 18:25:50 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 1-Aug-84 00:30:39 EDT Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario Lines: 49 . < ASBESTOS SUIT ON > I was wrong!!! (what's new about that, you may ask... :-) ) What I thought was: - in graphics mode, the PC is restricted to displaying 128 characters instead of 256. These may, however, be user-defined. What is really the truth: - Only 128 characters of the standard set are accessible. However, 128 user-defined characters may also be accessed. Ooops... < ASBESTOS SUIT OFF > As I see it, though, the IBM approach still has a couple of drawbacks: (1) Since you are in graphics mode (and assume 80 cols, right?) you are restricted to plain white-on-black characters. No highlights or fancy colours from your IBM RGB display. (2) You *must* use the IBM colour/graphics adapter (personally I'll take nice text & lack of flicker over graphics any day). You can't use the monochrome adapter, or something like a Hercules card. No such problem with STSC's APL. (3) You can't access the screen memory directly (only a minor complaint) > Well, you can go to DOS to use auxiliary processors. IBM's APL comes > with auxiliary processors to do screen management, file access, > talk over the communications port, handle the line printer, > make BIOS requests, and even play music. The documentation > supplied with the system even tells you how to write your own > auxiliary processors, without changing the language or the system. I can't see how auxiliary processors are less ``barocque'' than system commands and variables. They are awkward (share the variable, assign, unshare vs. just calling system function), and difficult to remember. I've used a VS APL on VM/SP (shame on me!) extensively, and I think using things like GDDM (a graphics/screen management system) through auxiliary processors is a royal pain. The control codes are obscure (quick! what does a 72 do when sent through to AP45?) and the whole thing just seems artificial. BTW, STSC's APL runs on many machines including 370 series, VAX, PC and TRS-80, so it is at least somewhat portably written. Maybe this discussion should be in net.lang.apl in any case... Tom "Who said I that I actually *like* the PC???" Haapanen {allegra,decvax,ihnp4}!watmath!watdcsu!haapanen