Package: gap Severity: minor The description of the 'gap' packag and all packages derived from it curently contains this sentence: "A kernel implements a Pascal-like language."
This is extremely misleading and factually incorrect; a bit like saying Linux is "DOS-like". Sure, there are things they have in common, but beyond that... I suggest to either remove this sentence, or to replace it with something more appropriate, e.g. "A kernel implements a custom functional programming language." Indeed, let me list some severe key differences: * Pascal is static typed, GAP is dynamic typed * Pascal distinguishes between functions and procedures, GAP does not * Pascal requires manual memory management, GAP is garbage collected * GAP allows for functional programming, e.g. functions are first class objects, currying is possible, etc. * GAP supports closures, Pascal does not * Pascal treats keywords case insensitive, GAP does not * Pascal is a compiled language, GAP (normally) is not * Pascal require declarations of variables etc., GAP does not There are really very few similarities between GAP and Pascal, and most are superficial. E.g. the naming of keywords like "if then" and "repeat until"; but clearly these are also used in a plethora of other languages. And assignments are done with ":="; but again, there are many other languages (esp. in a mathematical context) that follow this convention. Thanks, Max -- System Information: Debian Release: 6.0.2 APT prefers stable-updates APT policy: (500, 'stable-updates'), (500, 'stable') Architecture: i386 (i686) Kernel: Linux 2.6.32-5-686 (SMP w/2 CPU cores) Locale: LANG=de_DE.UTF-8, LC_CTYPE=de_DE.UTF-8 (charmap=UTF-8) Shell: /bin/sh linked to /bin/dash -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-bugs-dist-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
