Re: What value is there in programs as data?

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Article #4239

#4239

From: Raul Rockwell
Date: Sat, 29 Jun 1991 16:47

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Richard Harter:
   Can someone cite some examples where data=program is essential.

The canonical examples are:

(1) creation of development tools (e.g. debuggers, optimizers,
archival systems).

(2) symbolic math packages.

I'm not sure if these show that data=program is essential, but then
data and control flow are just two aspects of the same thing.

I think the best argument for a language which can manipulate its own
code is Von Neumann's: you can develop faster if you can use the
machine to manipulate your code.  Another argument is robustness of
data structures: such a language must have an adequate set of data
structure primitives.

Enough said?

-- 
Raul <rockwell@socrates.umd.edu>

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From: rockwell@socrates.umd.edu (Raul Rockwell)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.misc
Subject: Re: What value is there in programs as data?
Message-ID: <ROCKWELL.91Jun29114733@socrates.umd.edu>
Date: 29 Jun 91 16:47:33 GMT
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