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

["Tjoff Tjonk" <tjoff@tjonk.now>]

On Wed, 18 Jun 2003 17:16:18 -0500, Randy McLaughlin wrote:
>> Please Randy, tell us how to make arithmetic computation, conditional
>> statements and loops in HTML...
> 
> Word has now come down someone has now set the standard for what a computer
> programming language must contain.  Many computer languages have had similar
> statements made if it doesn't have x it can't be programming, a good example
> is dbase.  When dbase came out everyone said it's not a programming language
> because it did not have a goto (other than record pointer).  HTML is a very
> limited language it allows for someone to tell a client to do sophisticated
> actions.  You may not like it since it does not contain the verbs you want
> it to have, but it still is a programming language.  It will not balance
> your checkbook, but it will allow you see the world.

So, by your logic, *any* language is a programming language... There is a
Usenet custom on how to interpret *text* /like/ _this_ (i.e., *bold*,
/italics/, _underline_) - do you consider this a programming language as
well?

>> It is a mark-up language, not a programming language.
> 
> The Hyper-links alone shows that it is more than a mark-up language.  It
> does not require the user to type each and every page address to have the
> client move seamlessly from one page to another.  There are quite a few
> verbs that are available to control the page and links.

Do you consider SGML and XML programming languages?

There are no verbs in HTML. With HTML it is only possible to specify how
the text is to be interpreted by the HTML renderer. It is not possible to
"act" in any way - an HTML page is static.

> I have programmed in hardware using gates, binary using switches, assembler
> using mnemonics, basic, etc.  All are equal in that they are programming.
> Should I say that if you don't program with a ww pencil you aren't
> programming.

Sure, hardware, assembler, basic, etc, are all about programming. HTML is
about mark-up.