Re: Low-level vs. High-level programming (was My First Computer)

["Randy McLaughlin" <randy@nospam.com>]

"Tjoff Tjonk" <tjoff@tjonk.now> wrote in message
pan.2003.06.19.20.46.25.784693@tjonk.now">news:pan.2003.06.19.20.46.25.784693@tjonk.now...
> On Thu, 19 Jun 2003 15:31:11 -0500, Randy McLaughlin wrote:
>
> > At least a more intelligent statement.  I'll ask you the same question i
> > have asked others:  Please give me a reference, anything that someone
can
> > look up.  Without a reference it is just opinion, I gave my reference
for
> > all to read and respond.  So far the best response is they don't agree
with
> > the dictionary.  As far as gif, jpg, and doc files why don't we wait for
a
> > thread about them the thread on something as simple as HTML has already
gone
> > way to far.
>
> Ok Randy here are two definition for you:
>
>    6. A set of coded instructions that enables a machine, especially a
>    computer, to perform a desired sequence of operations.
>
>    7. An instruction sequence in programmed instruction.
>
> Since HTML offers neither instructions nor operations, HTML is not a
> programming language as defined above. Now that wasn't so hard, was
> it?
>
> (No, an HTML tag is not an instruction. There are no specified actions
> that are taken when the HTML renderer encounters a tag - it is just a
> way to mark-up the text. HTML tags are similar to comments in
> programming languages in this respect.)

I will use Basic v C/C++ since basic like a browser interprets.  HTML tags
command the interpreter (browser) that the following should be treated a
particular way.  Does that mean that the basic statement print is just a
tag, it just lets its interpreter know the following should be acted opon in
a particular way.  I agree that basic print v C/C++ writeln are processed
totally different, but that is just the difference between a compiler v
interpreter.  Do you recogzie that a 100 year-old loom can be programmed via
punch cards?  Are the people who create the cards no programmers?  Re-read
the definition it is short is is english it does use simple enough words.

I admit that HTML is a very simple language, I admit that it has very few
functions, I admit it is not computational.  It does follow an instruction
sequence (file order) based upon programmed instructions (tags).  100 year
old looms use a very simple "machine" language, they have very few
functions, they are not computational.  They follow an instruction sequence
based upon programmed instructions.