It is a programming language if it can output the lyrics to 99 bottles of beer <http://www.99-bottles-of-beer.net> without just hardcoding the lines.
And before you say, "but there is a submission there for JCL!", it is actually demonstrating the use of IEBDG, not JCL. 😉 -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU> On Behalf Of Phil Smith III Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2024 6:16 PM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: What is a "programming language"? Was:: Modifying JCL on the fly Radoslaw Skorupka wrote, in part: >Short answer: NO WAY. >However you can use some *programming* language for that, including REXX. >Simple explanation: >JCL is *not* a programming language. >JCL "piece of code" is called job, not program. First, I'm not disagreeing with you here. But this does make me wonder one more time, as I have in the past: "Just what IS required for something to be a 'programming language'"? Does it have to have loops? Variables? A compiler (I'd say "no, or various scripting languages might not qualify", and I don't think anyone would buy that)? Does HTML qualify? It has the L-word but that doesn't prove anything. Etc. I know people who think JCL does count. Can we prove them right or wrong by some objective definition? Thoughts? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
