Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: $Revision: 1.6.2.13 $; site uiucdcs.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!vaxine!wjh12!genrad!decvax!ucbvax!ucbcad!tektronix!uw-beaver!cornell!vax135!houxz!houxm!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!liberte From: liberte@uiucdcs.UUCP Newsgroups: net.lang Subject: Re: Re: The Joys of Batch - (nf) Message-ID: <26400015@uiucdcs.UUCP> Date: Tue, 19-Jun-84 01:33:00 EDT Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.26400015 Posted: Tue Jun 19 01:33:00 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 21-Jun-84 01:39:20 EDT References: <494@spuxll.UUCP> Lines: 35 Nf-ID: #R:spuxll:-49400:uiucdcs:26400015:000:1681 Nf-From: uiucdcs!liberte Jun 18 00:33:00 1984 #R:spuxll:-49400:uiucdcs:26400015:000:1681 uiucdcs!liberte Jun 18 00:33:00 1984 /**** uiucdcs:net.lang / ech@spuxll / 6:07 am Jun 12, 1984 ****/ If you fail to buy the best tools that you can afford, you are only working hard - not smart. =Ned= /* ---------- */ Much better tools are becoming available. Most timesharing systems and even most micros still operate in a batch mode in that a program is called to edit your text (albeit interactively, usually screen oriented), another program is called to compile the text, and others to link, load and debug it. The next step toward better tools is to integrate these separate steps in the programming cycle into one environment. Other aspects of software development that also must be included are planning and documenting. Why not make the computer work for you? Use it as a tool to explore how your program is working or not working. Use it to help model your software, etc. Even now, I rarely write a program out on paper, and rarely look at a hard copy. The tools I use make it so much easier to not use paper - even now. But I am excited by the prospects. My early experiences with computers (APL on IBM 1130) were interactive. Although most co-students used cards (FORTRAN, Pascal), I was only forced to use them twice - once to do some MIX programming (thanks Knuth). I consider it a terrible waste of time to have anyone, especially beginning students, using cards. Computer time is cheap in comparison. Just think of all the non-hacker type, potential computer geniuses that have been turned off by the inhuman treatment of humans. Daniel LaLiberte (ihnp4!uiucdcs!liberte) U of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Computer Science {moderation in all things - including moderation}