Scripting vs Programming

Hi mcds99,

a mean answer would be: I don't know about the COBOL, but the VBScript isn't
a script because it doesn't compile=run (because of the illegal variable name
"WS-NAME").

In earnest: As both codes do the same (simple) thing in a quick and dirty way,
I would call both "scripts". The COBOL code may contain starting points to make
it 'save' and 'strict', e.g "01 WS-NAME PIC X(25)". To make the VBScript code
more like a program, I'd would add "Option Explicit" and check the return value
of the InputBox function. Telling the user about who asks him (prompt) and
providing a default could be further efforts to go from scripting to programming.

Regards

ehvbs

Another point worth mentioning... is that if i'm not mistaken.... all scripting languages require another program to run the script...
whether that be windows scripting host, windows command interpreter (cmd.exe) etc etc...
 
This does not however work the otherway round... some programming languages also need other programs to run the program
eg.. a virtual machine or JIT Compiler in the case of Java
 
just another note :)

Your english is better then most of the people I drink beer with and I live in the US.

ORIGINAL: ehvbs

Hi ginolard,

because you are a wise guy?

(I may know some Latin, because in Gemany there was a theory, that pupils would learn
all other languages better, if they were first exposed to Latin. Evidently my English is
a counter example to that theory)

ehvbs

[OFF TOPIC]
Hi mcds99,

with a slightly pink face, but a happy grin: thanks for the compliment.

Regards

ehvbs

Thinking of it from this approach would be more approriate I think:
 
The processor will accept binary or assembly code as is without any extra effort on your part. These will work on only 1 processor type or machine
 
Higher level languages like C++ or QBASIC, ALGOL and so on require another program to translate your code into assembly/binary before it will process. This is also restricted to certain processor types .
 
Languages like Java and .NET languages require an extra program to convert your code into something called an Intermediate Language (IL). This language is used as a common ground to run on different systems and processor types without you the programmer having to rewrite any code. On the different systems they have an environment (a framework) that will finish compiling the code into assembly/binary for that machines specific processor.
 
Scripting languages are strictly interpreted. That means no new files have to be created or translated for your program to work. A separate program called a Host actually does the work. Each host will differ depending on the environment, but like the other languages mentioned, you only got to write it once.
 
Does that mean Scripting can't be considered programming? I think it can be considered just as much programming as any of the other languages. ALL LANGUAGES HAVE TO BE TURNED INTO BINARY/ASSEMBLY AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER. The difference being is how many other programs are you using to do it.
 
 Binary Assembly --> Processor
C++ --> Binary Assembly --> Processor
Java/.NET --> Intermediate Language --> Framework --> Binary/Assembly --> Processor
JavaScript/VBScript --> Host Interpreter -->  Binary/Assembly --> Processor