Re: Lack of formal syntax undermines Ada

["(see below)" <yaldnif.w@blueyonder.co.uk>]

On 12/04/2008 23:19, in article t7d204p3pf1vamvlshdoveif3a1b3k8l52@4ax.com,
"John McCabe" <john@nospam.assen.demon.co.uk.nospam> wrote:
... 
>>> Thanks to all for that clarification.
>>> 
>>> Bill - as a matter of interest, are you the "Findlay & Watt" Pascal
>>> bloke?
>> 
>> Indeed I am.
>> 
>> Also the "Watt, Wichmann and Findlay" Ada Bloke. 8-)
> 
> That was after my time, I studied Electronics at Glasgow Uni 1983-87,

"Watt, Wichmann and Findlay" came out in '87 (so long ago!),
but I take your point.

> and we were taught Pascal by the computing department using your book
> - Second Edition!

I know.
We've had this conversation here in c.l.a before, you know.
And, unlike me, you are too young to be having a "senior moment".
8-)

Did you use cards on the ICL 2976 for your labs?

Unlike the first edition of "Pascal", which we typeset and made the
camera-ready copy for ourselves, using nroff and a Diablo Hytype daisywheel
printer, the 2nd was "professionally" typeset at the publisher's insistence.

They inserted a space between the ':' and the '=' of every assignment,
and proceeded to expand it to arbitrary widths by justifying every line.
Virtually every page of the galleys had to be re-set.

<Victor Meldrew>
As I said to Brian Wichmann recently, publishers as a category are
possibly the most incompetent "professional" people I have ever had
to deal with. They (almost) make the software "profession" look good.
</Victor Meldrew>

Back on topic (almost): we typeset "Ada" ourselves, using TeX and a laser.

-- 
Bill Findlay
<surname><forename> chez blueyonder.co.uk