Languages Survey

[BEBO@SLACVM.BITNET]

Date: 11 November 1985, 13:18:56 PST
From: Bebo White                (415) 854-3300 x2907 BEBO     at SLACVM
To:   INFO-ADA at MIT-MC.ARPA, INFO-MICRO at BRL-VGR.ARPA
      INFO-PASCAL at BRL-VOC.ARPA
Subject: Languages Survey

This note is a reaction to Dave Godwin's Languages Survey which recently
appeared on this net - I would respond directly to Dave, but we don't
have access to an EDUNET gateway.

I, like many others I'm sure, was pleased with the outcome of the survey
which reinforced our interest in Pascal. One can only hope that the survey
was not biased by a large number of Pascal "bigots."

I assume that this survey represents language usage over a wide range
of computer manufacturers, including IBM. If that assumption is true
and Pascal does enjoy the popularity that the survey indicates, then
why is it not viewed as a strategic language by IBM?

IBM's Pascal/VS is a Program Offering with significantly less status
than VSFORTRAN, a Program Product. The SHARE FORTRAN Project is a
large and active group with apparently considerable influence on IBM.
On the other hand, the SHARE Pascal Project barely scrapes along with
virtually all of its requirements to IBM designated as Future
Objectives (i.e., expect it when you see it). The IBM Santa Teresa
Lab has a large FORTRAN team and a skeleton Pascal support staff.

Does anyone have any ideas about what may explain this apparent
incongruity?

Thanks.