--- Marc Krawitz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > The lack of transaction support is somewhat disconcerting. If the > globals > ended up in an inconsistent state, how would I know? Also, how would > I know > when the problem first began? > > Thanks, > > Marc >
I share your concern. The lack of transaction support is historical (not all supported platforms implemented transactions). There is, of course, journaling, but that's not a complete substitute for transactions. It is also true that transactions may not always be the mechanism you want to use, but it's a shame *not to be able* to use it. We are in a bit of a catch-22 here: The SAC requires that application code be portable across M implementations that conform to the standard. If support for a feature is not required by the standard, then it cannot be used. In practice, the SAC has also disallowed use of features known not to be fully implemented, even if the standard does require them, but I don't believe this is the case with transactions (I'll have to look it up when I get a chance). We are really in a catch-22 here. Unless there is suppport for updating the standard (and, as I've said before, I think this is badly needed), then we cannot, in good conscience, update the SAC. VistA has run on many platforms in the past, and who is to say that, at some future time, it may run on an M implementation that does not now exist? Sure, we can create a document that is based on the capabilities of implementations now in wide use, but I believe it would be wrong to abandon the (language) standard in the process, and it would very likely be a decision we'd come to regret. Yes, MUMPS is an old language (as is C or Lisp), but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Scheme (a Lisp dialect) is my language of choice. What is important for any language is that it not become stagnant. MUMPS can continue to be a vital and useful language if it also continues to be a *living* language. Unfortunately, as a community we've abandoned it, and contented ourself with a standard that is now 10 years old (and yes, I know there is/was a millenium standard, too). This is not a wise choice. it is a *dangerous* choice. === Gregory Woodhouse <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> "All truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." --Arthur Schopenhauer ------------------------------------------------------- This SF.net email is sponsored by: Splunk Inc. Do you grep through log files for problems? Stop! Download the new AJAX search engine that makes searching your log files as easy as surfing the web. DOWNLOAD SPLUNK! http://sel.as-us.falkag.net/sel?cmd=lnk&kid=103432&bid=230486&dat=121642 _______________________________________________ Hardhats-members mailing list Hardhats-members@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/hardhats-members
