In article <3913646F.CAC6BCA2@videotron.ca>, pk <thi### [at] videotronca> 
wrote:

> Well, first basic isn't slower than anything else when it's not
> compiled, i think... compiled, it can often be faster(see PowerBasic:
> dos version comparable to C compilers, windows version usually faster
> than MSVC(and BCPP, i think)) 

Still, why support another language when extending the current one would 
work? Compiling it isn't feasible, a different compiler would have to be 
made for each platform, and someone would have to write the interpreter. 
And then people would have to learn another language to use it, instead 
of just learning the differences between it and normal POV syntax.
And BASIC just isn't the best kind of language for this sort of 
thing...I personally would choose a highly simplified C- or Java-like 
syntax.


> Nope, i'm talking about using external apps(.exe in wintel)... instead
> of supporting a full blown language for function, just allow the user to
> use the (compiled) language s/he wants to use to do the maths!
> Instead of having to support everything you want POV's function language
> to support, POV could just allow you to call an application, and take
> the return value for result!!

Well, I don't think there is cross-platform way of doing this. And the 
lack of control over what the external program could do could cause 
problems. And how useful would it really be? I can't think of any cases 
where it would really help...
Also, this sounds a lot like the #system patch...which won't be included 
in the official version or MegaPOV for these reasons.

-- 
Christopher James Huff - Personal e-mail: chr### [at] yahoocom
TAG(Technical Assistance Group) e-mail: chr### [at] tagpovrayorg
Personal Web page: http://chrishuff.dhs.org/
TAG Web page: http://tag.povray.org/

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