TLC(ID:7381/tlc002)Visual systems implementation languagevisual programming language References: 1) Readability making the code easier to understand; 2) Formatting to emphasize logical nesting; 3) Procedure identification by a mnemonic; 4) Iteration and decision making highlighted; 5) Access to hardware features; 6) Macro capability; and 7) Multiple stacks with push and pop. On the "dislike" side are: 1) Clumsy logical operators; 2) Weak input-output capability; 3) No provisions for control of arithmetic precision; 4) Weak string handling capability; and 5) Tacit assumption of TTY input-output capablity. All of these can be lived with in the microcomputer and minicomputer environment, seen as the areas for this language. But the compilers for the language are still being written as of late 1978. This paper includes a good summary, as a "vocabulary" of the language, and four examples. In addition, short examples a few lines long illustrate the text of the paper. Readers interested in learning more about the language might check the Proc. IEEE Conference on Microprocessors (June 10-12, 1977) Paper 12 by the author, entitled "TLC--A New System Language," which is very similar in coverage to the paper reviewed here. But the examples are fewer, while the text explanation is a little fuller. The author has available a BNF description of the language. in ACM Computing Reviews 19(12) December 1978 view details in ACM Computing Reviews 19(12) December 1978 view details |