Re: CL pgm and pointer variables

Hans said,

> The functionality offered by the system API's can certainly
> be used in the construction of higher-level services useful
> to application programmers. But application programmers
> really shouldn't have to deal directly with the system
> API's, IMO.

<snip>

> I suppose I view the issue in stark black and white terms:
> If you need to use pointers, you're doing "systems programming".
> If you are doing "applications programming", you shouldn't
> have to use pointers.

Hans,

Therein lies the problem.   you say there are many system level functions
that are useful to app programmers, but we shouldn't have to 'touch' the
nuts and bolts.   who will provide the 'simplified' wrappers for us?

IBM?  not soon enough - even given the break-neck speed at which you and
your mates have been adding features to the languages and os.

Open-source?  growing, but still fledgling.  Too, much of the open source
stuff availabe isn't 'exactly' what we need, so it might need to be changed
or enhanced - indeed, open-source encourages this practice.  So, we may
still have to poke around under the hood to get it running smoothly.

Tools vendors?  not very numerous, usually very expensive, and too
specialized or inflexible.

Most of us application programmers don't have access to a 'systems
programmer' staff.  we must wear both hats.

And until we actually dig into the nuts and bolts, make our own mistakes
and our own discoveries and breakthroughs, we won't even know what the
possibilities are.  I know that I've only scratched the surface of what I
think is possible.

rick