Oberon, the successor of Pascal and Modula_2, is both a programming language and a novel programming environment designed by N.Wirth and J.Gutknecht at ETH Zurich. It is available without fee from ETH. Currently there are implementations for Apple Macintosh II, Digital Equipment DECstation, IBM PC, IBM RS6000, and Sun SPARCstation. These implementations are completely source_code compatible with each other and share the same document architecture. This sheet shows some of the chararacteristics of the Macintosh implementation of the Oberon System, MacOberon, and describes how to obtain it.
Language
- Strong type checking
- Modules with type_checked interfaces and separate compilation
- Type extension, which provides for object_oriented programming
- Support for run_time type tests
- Compatibility between all numeric types (mixed expressions)
- String operations
Compiler
- Generates native code; no separate linking necessary
- Very fast compilation
- Can compile directly from edit window
System
- Single_process multitasking
- Automatic garbage collection
- Commands: procedures that can be called like programs
- Dynamic loading (adding modules to a running program)
- Text as a built_in abstract data type
- Tools for text and graphics editing, and for program development
Literature
The standard software distribution contains sufficient basic on_line documentation to enable first_time users to get started with Oberon. However, for serious work we recommend the following books published by Addison_Wesley.
N. Wirth and M. Reiser: Programming in Oberon. Steps beyond Pascal and Modula_2.
Addison Wesley, 1992, ISBN 0-201-56543-9.
Tutorial for the Oberon programming language and concise language reference.
M. Reiser: The Oberon System. User Guide and Programmer's Manual.
Addison Wesley, 1991, ISBN 0-201-54422-9.
User manual for the programming environment and reference for the standard module library.
N. Wirth and J. Gutknecht: Project Oberon. The Design of an Operating System and Compiler.
Addison Wesley, 1992, ISBN 0-201-54428-8.
Program listings with explanations for the whole Oberon system, including the compiler for NS32000.
System Requirements
MacOberon requires a Macintosh equipped with a Motorola 68020 processor (or higher) and a floating_point coprocessor. It will not run on Macintosh Classic computers. However, it does run on the Macintosh Quadra with caching enabled, and on the Macintosh IIsi if one of several widely available public_domain INITs is used to emulate the floating_point coprocessor which is lacking on this model. MacOberon prefers to run under System 7. A large monitor is highly recommended.
How to get MacOberon
MacOberon can be obtained via anonymous internet file transfer ftp (at no charge) or on floppy disks (for a fee of 50 Swiss Francs, which is about 35 U.S. Dollars). We accept payment via Eurocard/Mastercard or VISA. To order by credit card, specify your credit card number, expiration date, and your name exactly as it appears on the card.
FTP Hostname: neptune.inf.ethz.ch
Internet Address: 129.132.101.33
FTP Directory: Oberon/MacII
For Further Information Please Contact our Secretary at
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