Aucbvax.1649
fa.apollo
utzoo!duke!decvax!ucbvax!TAW@SU-AI
Fri Jun 12 09:43:40 1981
Star
As I understand it, the Star comes with a somewhat low-power programming
language called CUSP.  This is the only programming facility available to
the user.  Rumor has it (and it would not surprise me) that there is an
extensive Mesa development system that could be run on the Star, but is
destined to never leave the hallowed halls of Xerox.  (If I am wrong
on any of this I will cheerfully accept correct information from our
friends at Xerox who are reading this)

Apparently the reasoning behind this involves consistancy in system 
software.  If you don't give the users (who aren't supposed to be
programmers to begin with) access to the system programming language,
and armor-plate the language that you do give them,  they can't
do themselves or the system any harm.  Also, if you want a new
system application, you must ask Xerox to make it for you.  Thus
it will be written properly (I am not being sarcastic here. There
is a lot to be said for this approach when your target market is
composed of non-programmers).  Xerox doesn't want to find themselves
in the position of supporting outside software, because outsiders
don't have the information and the methodology to write that 
software in a consistant manner with the rest of the Star system.




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