[fpc-pascal] Standardization of Modern Pascal

[Gilles MARCOU]

Hi,

the question is interesting in my opinion. The standard for a language
(C, Fortran, C++) or an authority able to define the language (Java)
helps to write code that will be as unrelated as possible of a precise
"dialect" or community.

As I understand, the main problem is the relation with CodeGear's
Delphi. Whatever the community can decide about a "standard" or at least
a set of "good practices", they have no reason to follow. On another
hand they represent too much of the "Modern Pascal" community to be just
ignored. Therefore, is it possible to follow CodeGear? Is it
possible/desirable to follow the model of Java: CodeGear manage the
langage, other Pascal implementations have to follow?

Yet, the language lack of an authority for convergence of Pascal
projects. I agree that a dialect has a potential of innovation that dies
when the language obey a standard. But, shall we see the existence of a
common ground as a barrier to innovation? Does it really hurts the
personnality of other Pascal Projects? Comparison with Basic is not
relevant, I think: the lack of definition for Basic lead it to a niche
of "language for writing Macros". This is rather different of "write
once, compile everywhere".

To end my contribution, I think a that this kind of discussion concerns
also the relationship between Delphi and Free Pascal. Despite some
forks, I have found on wikipedia, that Free Pascal is almost compliant
with Delphi6/7. Considering the economical difficulties of Code Gear, it
is possible that Free Pascal will remain the only living project to
continue developpement with former Borland's tools (now Embarcadero's
and nothing seems scheduled about Delphi).

So, is there a "reference" implementation of Modern/Object Pascal? Does
Free Pascal can take this role? Is it better to let it to Delphi? Or to
GNU Pascal (or any other project)? Which criteria shall match such
"reference"?

Sorry for the FUD.
Gilles Marcou

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> Today's Topics:
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>    1. Re:  Standardization of Modern Pascal (ik)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 12:45:01 +0300
> From: ik <idokan at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [fpc-pascal] Standardization of Modern Pascal
> To: "FPC-Pascal users discussions" <fpc-pascal at lists.freepascal.org>
> Message-ID:
> 	<dc42cb950807070245u26b1c564l81b807a5ae87ce81 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> 
> On Mon, Jul 7, 2008 at 12:22 PM, Michael Van Canneyt
> <michael at freepascal.org> wrote:
> >
> >
> > On Mon, 7 Jul 2008, leledumbo wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> Why Modern Pascal isn't standardized? Take a look at its other brothers and
> >> sisters, for example C & Fortran. (AFAIK) C has been standardized in 1989
> >> and 1999 (there perhaps earlier ones), while Fortran in 60,77,..(I forgot
> >> these ones, there are too many),2000,2003(,2005?). Pascal has only 2
> >> standards, ISO-7185 (Standard Pascal) in 1990 and 10206 (Extended Pascal) in
> >> 1991. Since most todays Pascal programmers use Modern Pascal, I think it's
> >> worth to be standardized. At least, those Anti-Pascal community will no
> >> longer argue about standard (which I hate very much).
> >
> > We'll sit around the table with CodeGear and try too cook up something :-)
> >
> > I don't think that setting a standard will improve the userbase.
> > As far as I know, VB is also not 'standardized', nor is the SAP variant
> > of Basic or OpenOffice basic. Nevertheless, they are used a lot.
> 
> The same goes also to Perl, python, Ruby and PHP. They do not have
> standard, but they are used.
> I do think there there should be some guidelines regarding modern
> Pascal development. But this guidelines will very between each project
> and it's goals.
> I think that the path of FPC is going to the right direction, while
> CodeGear try to make Pascal closer to Java/C#. It seems that the
> verity of dialects also contribute for the progress of the language,
> while languages such as C lack of such progress IMHO.
> 
> 
> >
> > Michael.
> 
> my 0.02 cents :)
> 
> 
> Ido