The Use of Values without Names in a Programming Support Environment.
Abstract
This paper discusses the effect on the user of a Programming Support Environment (PSE) in which it is unnecessary to give names to objects in order to keep them or use them. The PSE is a highly interactive environment called Flex, that is perceptibly different from other PSEs. It is built on the Flex capability object oriented computer architecture developed at RSRE, Malvern. Names on Flex do not have the importance that they assume on most other PSEs because values need not be named before they can be held on filestore, used and located. Values can be accessed by scanning a structured filestore without the need to use names to identify them. The ability to use values without naming them is shown to be not only possible but also beneficial. Flex is a multi-language Programming Support Environment (PSE) designed to simplify the development and maintenance of complex software, with a high regard for system integrity and reliability. The PSE development since the first Flex architecture came into use in 1978 has been mainly a response to requests from programmers using the system. The large software base includes all normal operating system facilities and many other procedures including compilers for Algo168 and Pascal. An Ada (*) compiler is near completion and an ML compiler is under development.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA166603
Entities
People
- Margaret Stanley
Organizations
- Royal Signals and Radar Establishment