Re: 4th generation languages

[Ed McGuffey <fgae23@ods04.and.ifg.gmeds.com>]

Robert Dewar wrote:
> 
> Steven said
> 
> "A fourth generation language is one that is NOT procedural based. C++,
> although it is object oriented, it is not a 4th generation language.  An
> example of a 4th generation language would be SQL, SmallTalk,etc..
> 
> Basically, any programming language that looks like plain English.
> "


All wrong.

Many 4GL's contain procedures (example: Easytrieve+).  

SQL is certainly not a 4GL.  It's not even a programming language, per se.  It is
a common syntax used to query a database.  SQL is most often embedded in programs
written in a language (usually a 3GL or a 4GL), and is converted into the host
language by a preprocessor.

SmallTalk is certainly not a 4GL.  4GL's are typified as being simple and easy to
learn.  Learning SmallTalk requires an understanding of object-oriented
principles, which are deceivingly complex.  No 4GL would require you to learn this
kind of "behind the scenes" type stuff.

Another note about 4GL's: they often handle common processes automatically.
Examples of common processes are:
 1. opening an input file and reading each record in sequence
 2. putting report headers at the top of each page
 3. tallying (records read in, records written out, page number, etc.)