LINC 4GL

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).

LINC is a 4th-generation computer language, used mostly by Unisys machines

Contents

[edit] Background

LINC was originally developed as a short-cut by programmers finding that they needed larger numbers of very similar COBOL programs. It was written to generate COBOL code, which could then be compiled. Different names were intentionally used for control structures - DO.WHEN rather than IF, and LOOK.UP or DETERMINE rather than READ, with the OPEN and CLOSE statements generated automatically.

Originally it was for Burroughs computers. In September 1986, Burroughs Corporation merged with Sperry Corporation to form Unisys Corporation. The language was extended to be used by Sperry's machines.

From version 11, its character changed. Where a specification had previously been held in source-code files, it was now held in a database (designed and developed using the LINC 4GL) and subject to rigorous automatic validation. The new LINC-based system in which specifications were stored was named LINC interactive or LINC Development Environment (LDE).

In the early 90s, a new PC-based tool for developing LINC specifications was released. Another difference between LDA and LDE is that LDA was based on the JADE programming language rather than the LINC 4GL (the latter of which was not intended to run on a personal computer). From version 17, it was intended that all development be done with LDA.

Now LINC is known as Unisys Enterprise Application Environment (EAE) and can generate

in addition to compiling generated code and deploying databases to correspond with the specification. Databases supported include Burroughs DMS, Sperry RDMS, Oracle database and Microsoft SQL Server.

Unisys is now replacing it with Unisys Agile Business Suite, a new suite promoting object-oriented features.

[edit] HISTORY

LINC was originally developed by two entrepreneurs in New Zealand ( Gil Simpson and Peter Hoskins back in the early 1980’s . Burroughs became very interested in it and purchased all the rights to it in 1982. A New Zealand development centre was set up to enhance and roll-out to a wide set of Burroughs platforms.

Eventually, it was sold to over 4,000 clients world-wide.

Development work has also been done by Unisys in Sydney Australia and Roseville, Minnesota.

[edit] Strengths

  • It provides an intuitive and easy to understand interface to the Burroughs DMS and COBOL programming.
  • As it has been modernised to support different platforms, it facilitates migration between platforms and databases.
  • By confining a specification in a database, you can keep the entire design in a single design & development environment.
  • Once you generate, you know that your code is absolutely consistent with your design specification.
    • A client interface is always consistent with a system generated at the same time.
    • The system's database access code is always consistent with the system's database tables.

[edit] Weaknesses

These arise mostly from its basis of Burroughs DMS and COBOL, which differ greatly from other computing platforms.

  • People entering the industry or from a Unix / Windows background may struggle to adjust to this different paradigm. People from a different mainframe background will almost never develop a complete understanding of the intentions behind LINC.
  • Functionality can be limited by the need to support multiple platforms. You can't use optimal Oracle structures or queries if the mainframe platforms don't support them.

[edit] Websites

[edit] External Reference

[edit] Resellers

  • Asysco, Dutch provider of utilities for assisting development with the LINC 4GL and, more recently, their own competing product Asysco Lion], http://www.asysco.nl/
  • Chesapeake, consulting and development services for LINC developers, http://chspk.com/
  • Eagle Computer Associates, provider of utilities and services for LINC developers, http://www.eagleca.com/
  • Information Exchange Group, provider of utilities for assisting development with LINC, http://www.ieg-inc.com/
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../l/i/n/LINC_4GL_5cd3.html"