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From: gandreas@umn-d-ub.D.UMN.EDU (Glenn Andreas)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: LSP 2.0
Keywords: features editor
Message-ID: <450@umn-d-ub.D.UMN.EDU>
Date: 9 Aug 88 15:24:37 GMT
Organization: U. of Minnesota-Duluth, Computer Center
Lines: 45


Since I heard about LSP 2.0 coming out with the ability to compile MacApp,
I've been thinking about buying it (I use MPW now).  But I was wondering a
few things about it:

	First, how does the editor work?  I've never used LSP before but I
	have used MacPascal, and I understand that it is the same/similar
	editor.  Is this true?  That is, does the editor automatically
	"parse" the code you type (and do things like pretty-print, and make
	reserved words lowercase and bold?).  Can all of that be turned
	off?  I want a editor that keeps things just the way I type them -
	if I want to indent after an "IF" or put the short bit of code on
	the same line after the "THEN" it is my business.  I write in a
	certain style for a reason - so I can understand it.  If the editor
	works against me, I won't buy it, no matter how nice everything else
	is.

The rest of the issues are minor in comparison:

	Does it allow LHS type coersion? (e.g. CursorHandle(h)^^:=c )

	Does it allow calculated constants? (e.g. CONST maxPlus1 = max + 1)

	Does it allow "short circuit" boolean evaluation (e.g. IF h<>NIL &
		h^^.f > 5 THEN ... )

	Does it pack arrays of booleans correctly? (TYPE KeyMap = PACKED
		ARRAY [0..128] OF BOOLEAN)

	Does it have conditional compilation? ({$IFC Debug=TRUE} WriteLn(x);
		{$ENDC})

I guess these last all come down to how close it is to MPW Pascal.  The
first question is the main one influencing my purchase.

Oh, and is it shipping from such places as MacConnection, etc...  If so,
(and depending on the answers to the above questions) Mr Visa is going to
get some exercise (now that my hard disk is almost paid off :-).

Email or post.  Thanks.

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= "When I was young, all I wanted was to be  | - gandreas@ub.d.umn.edu -    =
=  ruler of the universe.  Now that isn't    |   Glenn Andreas              =
=  enough" - Alex P. Keaton                  |                              =
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