Warp wrote:
> 
> Francois Labreque <fla### [at] videotronca> wrote:
> : First: shell scripting IS a programming language.
> 
>   Well, strictly speaking, yes.
>   The most important difference with common programming languages is that
> the shell script is very closely related to the Unix system and its tools.
> Using unix tools (usually separate little programs, sometimes shell builtin
> commands) is very natural and straightforward using a shell script.
>   In most programming languages this isn't as easy. Usually programming
> languages are quite independent from the system and so, calling system tools
> is not as easy.
> 
> : Second: Unix doesn't have built-in compilers either.  What you should
> : have said is that most Unix packages, usually come with a bundled C
> : compiler.  But not all of them do.  SCO, for example, doesn't unless you
> : buy the "advanced" package.
> 
>   Well, it's more an exception than a rule that in a randomly chosen Unix
> there's no cc command... :)

Maybe my original complaint wasn't clear enough.  While most Unices do
provide a bundled C compiler, it is not part of the operating system. 
It is merely an application bundled with the package that includes the
operating system and many tools and applet.  Would you argue that
Solitaire or the calculator are part of the Windows operating system?

-- 
Francois Labreque | Rimmer: "Let's go to red alert!"
    flabreque     | Kryten: "Are you sure, Sir?  You realize it
        @         |          actually means changing the bulb!"
   videotron.ca

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