Guide to the Environmental-Language
Abstract
The Environmental-Language (E-L) was designed and developed by Dr. Mike Karr of Software Options Inc., and Harvard University. The software performs most of the functions of a Configuration Management system and an Activity Coordination system. It is constructed on top of the Emacs text editor (Emacs is part of GNU and copyrighted 1985, 1986 by Richard M. Stallman) using the ELSP programming language embedded in EMACS. Configuration Management is the process which monitors multiple programmers working on a project and provides the capability to document each others work without over-writing others. All changes are tracked and recorded. In lieu of working with files, E-L operates on artifacts, which differ in that they are: In theory, never deleted. Alterations are handled by creating new artifacts. By saving previous versions, the user can rollback in the event of problems. Typed, such as Unix-programs, C-modules, C- source, or Lisp-modules, rather than by extension conventions. Activity Coordination manages activations, which are formalized by transaction graphs. With E-L servers running on multiple hosts, an activity (known as a process) will execute in parallel across these member sites distributed according to each system's utilization and uninhibited by the host's architecture and operating system.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA275849
Entities
People
- Jason Hamshar
Organizations
- Rome Laboratory