On Thu, 5 Aug 2010 22:54:42 David Gamey wrote:
> Andrew,
> 
> As I recall SPITBOL/SNOBOL4 strings were immutable as well. 
>
So... SNOBOL's replacement actually re-points the variable holding the 
subject? So if you had

   a = "abc"
   b = a

are they shared in SNOBOL at this point? and then

   a pattern = something

now a is not shared and b is referring to an undamaged original

> As far as the assembler from hell syntax - people loved it in spite
>  of that.  It was a bit of a badge of honour :)
>
I've read of a value-added syntax for SNOBOL which I'd have to look for, 
but I was thinking a trivial preprocessor could at least handle WHILE 
and IF with very little trouble. Sounds like a good first SNOBOL task!

> Back in the day of punch cards ... there was a gag for entry level
>  students. The prep was to write an overly long program and ran it
>  through another that ensured EVERY line had a label and S/F gotos. 
>  If I recall the program labeler also fluffed up the deck with
>  useless statements to improve the effect.  You kept in your pocket
>  the :(START) and END cards.  In front of the students, drop the 500
>  card deck in front of the newbies and make sure it gets thoroughly
>  mixed up. Act clueless and secretly insert the :(start) and end
>  cards around the deck.  Read it in and presto the program impossibly
>  ran correctly. The looks on the faces of the newbies was priceless.
>  :)
>
Fabulous!



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