Re: Keyboard input

[ecragg@GMUVAX.GMU.EDU ("EDWARD CRAGG")]

> From: seas.gwu.edu!mfeldman@uunet.uu.net  (Michael Feldman)
> Subject: Keyboard input
> 
   [ text deleted ]

> I would like very much to see a portable character-IO library -
> portable in the sense that there would be an implementation-independent
> package spec. The routine described by Rick Conn in a previous posting is
> a good start in this direction. I will see if I have a copy and post it.
> The package _body_ will necessarily be OS-dependent, because it's something
> that can't be directly written in Ada.

The ALS/N project has taken the approach of writing a package
IMMEDIATE_IO (using VMS QIOW's) which is effectively a TEXT_IO clone
for all the objects for which it makes sense.  (All the various
column/line/page related objects are eliminated).  As a result, it is
interchangeable with TEXT_IO (assuming WITHs and USEs) and does not
require a "thought pattern" change when writing code. When live
keyboard input is required, IMMEDIATE_IO is used, otherwise TEXT_IO is
used.  I have found the package to be very practical and effective. 

ed
 ............................................................
Edward E Cragg                Bitnet:   ECRAGG@GMUVAX
                              Internet: ECRAGG@GMUVAX.GMU.EDU