Re: [open-cobol-list] solving my problem, helping others. JNI vs Boost

[Patrick]

Hi Brian

If C++ is not imminent should I maybe focus on user defined functions?

I could hack libcob, recompiling it with my own functions. Afterwards I 
could study Lua and Tcl to better understand how dynamic languages load 
external C libraries and then I could try to figure out how to do this 
without using a dynamic language with libcob. I wish Ada and Vala were 
not so large, The spec file/ vapi file thing would be good to study but 
it's beyond my competence right now.

I can also look at Java integration. Hitachi boasts about their Cobol 
compiler working with it, maybe it's a good thing for the whole 
community. I just need Sockets, RS232 and GPIB. If I can get the first 
two with Java then I better go for it. GPIB (general Purpose Interface 
Bus) is a 40 year old protocol just being phased out of the test and 
measurement/ Scientific instrument field. There is still likely a few 
billion dollars worth of used equipment floating around that uses this 
and a huge market to supply support as manufacturers drop support to 
force people to buy the same instrument that has ethernet.

Thanks for the libXML tip, I will look into this.

Rebol and Falcon both look interesting. You are so well versed in the 
"off brand" languages as well. Yep BF could have chosen a better name. 
Do you think it is a good piece of code to study in term of learning 
about interpreters?

I have read about Unicon and Icon and even printed the Icon manual. 
There is also spitbol for snobol and python and Lua implementations. I 
don't know if I will have time for it but it would be neat to have one 
for OC too.

Thanks again-Patrick