Newsgroups: comp.lang.apl
Path: watmath!watserv2.uwaterloo.ca!torn!csd.unb.ca!Gateway.UNB.ca
From:     Jeff Richards <jeff@AESYVR1.PWC.AES.DOE.CA>
Sender:   APL Language Discussion <APL-L@UNBVM1.BITNET>
Reply-To: Jeff Richards <jeff@AESYVR1.PWC.AES.DOE.CA>
Subject:  APL2 vs VSAPL
Message-ID: <9304061931.AB23678@unb.ca>
Organization: UofNB News Gateway, Fredericton, CANADA
Date:     Tue, 6 Apr 1993 11:51:49 PDT

Can anyone out there educate a poor backward waif as to the merits(or lack
thereof) of APL2 over VSAPL(a la IBM mainframe fame).  I've only used VSAPL
and am at present contemplating buying a package for my little machine at home.
I have a choice between an interpreter based on VSAPL(which I know) and one
that is based on APL2(which I know nothing about).

What's the difference - i.e. what does APL2 offer that VSAPL doesn't and what
(of significance) does it leave out.  I'm not interested so much in esoteric
changes I'll never bump into, but more of a broad description.  In other words
if I've been living happily in the land of VSAPL have I been living a deprived
and malnourished existence without even knowing it?  Are the two source code
compatible(i.e. do VSAPL programs run under APL2 - I assume the reverse is not
true)?

Thanks in advance.

--
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Jeff Richards
Federal Government of Canada
Department of Environment
Atmospheric Environment Service
700 - 1200 West 73rd Avenue
Vancouver, BC  CANADA  V6P 6H9

Voice:    (604) 664-9140
Fax:      (604) 664-9195

Internet: jeff@aesyvr1.pwc.aes.doe.ca
          jeff@[131.235.151.50]

UUCP:     aesyvr1!jeff - (604) 664-9135  Userid=uucp, Password=<none>

DOTS:     RICHARDSJ AT A1 AT AESVAN
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