From mboxrd@z Thu Jan  1 00:00:00 1970
From: cowan@mercury.ccil.org (John Cowan)
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2016 15:23:08 -0400
Subject: [TUHS] Algol68 vs. C at Bell Labs
In-Reply-To: <20160630134457.BE26B18C103@mercury.lcs.mit.edu>
References: <20160630134457.BE26B18C103@mercury.lcs.mit.edu>
Message-ID: <20160630192307.GB30017@mercury.ccil.org>

Noel Chiappa scripsit:

> One of many, apparently, given Hoare's incredible classic "The Emperor's
> Old Clothes":

I agree with 90% of what he says, but not about Algol 68.  He obviously
has a strong preference for small languages: it would be interesting
to see his uncensored opinions of C++, the Godzilla of our day as Ada
and PL/I and Algol 68 were the Godzillas of theirs.  But from where we
stand now, A68 looks like a minizilla indeed, and has many interesting
ideas (notably structural equivalence).  It would need a few upgrades
to provide for subtyping and functional programming.

-- 
John Cowan          http://www.ccil.org/~cowan        cowan at ccil.org
In might the Feanorians / that swore the unforgotten oath
brought war into Arvernien / with burning and with broken troth.
and Elwing from her fastness dim / then cast her in the waters wide,
but like a mew was swiftly borne, / uplifted o'er the roaring tide.
        --the Earendillinwe