> -----Original Message-----
> From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU> On
> Behalf Of Phil Smith III
> Sent: Monday, November 11, 2024 10:42 AM
> To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU
> Subject: Re: What is a "programming language"? Was:: Modifying JCL on the
> fly
>
> Joel Ewing wrote, in part, on the original thread:
> > There are many such solutions to get around the fact that JCL is not a
> >programming language and is static at execution time.
So, unless it support the generally considered poor practice of self modifying
code at runtime, it's not a programming language?
>
> So (and yes, I realize that's an AND): is "static at execution time" a
> disqualifier
> in the Am I A Programming Language sweepstakes?
>
> While this is academic, I'm actually seriously interested in this. And of
> course
> maybe it's unanswerable in any meaningful, definitive way!
>
> Almost makes me wish I had a CS degree. OK, not really.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU> On
> Behalf Of Bob Bridges
> Sent: Monday, November 11, 2024 1:27 PM
> To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU
> Subject: Re: What is a "programming language"? Was:: Modifying JCL on the
> fly
>
> I've thought about this question ("can JCL be considered a programming
> language?") for some years. I usually include it in my list of languages,
> but I
> almost always add "sort of". Still, during my most recent job interview, my
> potential boss definitely agreed with me: It counts.
>
> So did it count only after it had IF statements? But no, the COND parm
> qualifies as a sort of IF, doesn't it?
>
> JCL is very much like PC-DOS' batch language, which originally was just a
> scripting tool ("run this program, now run this program..."); I think we
> mostly
> call .bat a "language" too. Not sure what if anything that proves.
>
> ---
> Bob Bridges, robhbrid...@gmail.com, cell 336 382-7313
>
> /* ....The Christian is in a different position from other people who are
> trying to
> be good. They hope, by being good, to please God if there is one, or — if
> they
> think there is not — at least they hope to deserve approval from good men.
> But the Christian....does not think God will love us because we are good, but
> that God will make us good because He loves us.... -from _What Christians
> Believe_ by C S Lewis */
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU> On
> Behalf Of Phil Smith III
> Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2024 19:16
>
> 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?
>
> --- Radoslaw Skorupka wrote, in part:
> >JCL is *not* a programming language.
> >JCL "piece of code" is called job, not program.
>
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