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Languages Introduction
Most manufacturers are moving
away from proprietary programming
languages and are now supporting
a more
open architecture. BASIC, PASCAL, and C/C++ are the
most commonly supported languages now available. Each
language has itÕs own strength and weaknesses as discussed
below.
BASIC is probably the easiest language to program
in, but it is not a portable language. In addition,
most BASIC software packages do not compile and are
usually interpreted. This means that most BASIC programs
will run slower than compiled programs such as C/C++.
BASIC is a fairly robust programming language, but
when it comes to manipulating digits within a byte
(8 bit string) or word (16 bit string), it becomes
very difficult. For the most part, BASIC is a rapid
prototyping language and is very good for general purpose
applications. If the development cycle must be short,
BASIC is the best contender. In fact, most proprietary
languages are modeled after BASIC because of the simplicity
in programming and rapid development time.
PASCAL is usually a compiled language, but it
is not portable. PASCAL looks like a combination between
BASIC and C. PASCAL is also a structured language and,
therefore, appears to be an outline to the casual observer.
A few manufacturers support this language but most
now support C/C++.
C/C++ is by far the most common, everyday programming
language. Most manufacturers now support C/C++ functions
and libraries to be imbedded within the programmerÕs
code. As previously mentioned, C/C++ is a compiled
language, and therefore, runs extremely fast. C/C++
is also portable and can be run on most platforms with
different compilers. Of all common programming languages,
C/C++ provides the greatest flexibility for almost
any complex operation. However, the development time
for most C/C++ applications is the most extensive.
Most users are now moving from DOS to Windows
applications. With Windows, there two major development
languages that could be employed: Visual Basic and
Visual C/C++. Since the demand for Windows applications
is increasing, many manufacturers are beginning to
support custom controls and Dynamic Link Libraries
(DLL) for developers to easily access a manufacturerÕs
development routines.
Both Visual Basic and Visual C/C++ shorten the
Windows development cycle immensely. Currently, Visual
Basic does not compile and, therefore, does run slower.
However, as processor speeds increase, the ÒslownessÓ will
become less apparent to the end user. Most applications
can be developed in a fraction of the time in Visual
Basic than in Visual C/C++ and Microsoft even offers
a compiler to increase performance. When beginning
to develop Windows applications, Visual Basic should
be the first choice for development.
Practically any database can be accessed with
middleware software. Middleware software even exists
for mainframe and midrange systems to allow PC developers
to directly access the host database from an ordinary
PC. No longer does the programmer have to know how
to program on the host using languages such as Report
Program Generator (RPG). The developer can now access
the host information easily with common PC development
tools such as Visual Basic.
Many programmers already know that access times
can be slow if ODBC is employed to access some host
computers. Some middleware software now even exists
to access host databases directly without using ODBC
routines. For example, the AS/400 best utilizes Distributed
Data Management (DDM) to provide subsecond record access
to most queries. PC development software now exists
to employ DDM access the AS/400.
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