4GL => 4th generation languages. I've often heard Perl described as a fourth generation language. Of course, I should've looked up the definition first.

Often abbreviated 4GL, fourth-generation languages are programming languages closer to human languages than typical high-level programming languages. Most 4GLs are used to access databases. For example, a typical 4GL command is FIND ALL RECORDS WHERE NAME IS "SMITH"

But, the definition can apply to Perl, in that the language is much closer to English than C or Java. For example,

foreach $item (@list_of_stuff) { next if $item eq "Something bad"; do_stuff($item); }

And, from what I've read about Perl6, this will be even more the case. My feeling is that any language that provides the following is a candidate for being a 4th-generation lenguage.

But, as always, this is just my opinion.

------
We are the carpenters and bricklayers of the Information Age.

The idea is a little like C++ templates, except not quite so brain-meltingly complicated. -- TheDamian, Exegesis 6

... strings and arrays will suffice. As they are easily available as native data types in any sane language, ... - blokhead, speaking on evolutionary algorithms

Please remember that I'm crufty and crochety. All opinions are purely mine and all code is untested, unless otherwise specified.


In reply to Re: Re: Re: Multi tiered web applications in Perl by dragonchild
in thread Multi tiered web applications in Perl by pernod

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