TweetFollow Us on Twitter

Prograph 1.2
Volume Number:6
Issue Number:3
Column Tag:Kelly's Corner

Prograph 1.2

By Dave Kelly, MacTutor Editorial Board

Prograph™ 1.2, An OOP Primer

Prograph is a new pictorial programming language and software development environment. offered by TGS Systems of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Prograph started out as a research project by Drs. T. Pietrzykowski and P. Cox, professors of Computer Science at the Technical University of Nova Scotia. They then implemented Prograph on the Macintosh at TGS Systems, turning it into a next generation development environment and Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tool.

At the heart of Prograph is a completely pictorial, object-oriented, dataflow style language with a built in source code debugger. The combination of a pictorial, OOP language and integrated development environment makes Prograph a great way to learn about Object Oriented Programming. The pictorial environment of Prograph is a platform which is perfectly suited for the Macintosh. The complete Prograph language development system is made up of three major parts the language, the Application Builder, and the Environment.

Language

Class hierarchy is pictorially represented in the Classes window. A class is an abstract description of a collection of similar objects. Objects have two components, their attributes and their methods. For example, if we were to define a class for humans, we might call the class Person since a group of people is made up of persons. Each person has similar attributes such as arms, legs, hands, feet, etc. The individual people are referred to as instances of class Person. The features that the people have are called their attributes and the things they to are called methods.

Clicking on the left side of the class icon opens up an Attributes window which contains the sequence of attributes of a class. Clicking on the right side of the class icon (in the class window) opens up the Methods window.

There are two ways to retain values. Either they may be stored in class attributes or in persistents. Persistents are universally accessible and are saved with the program between executions.

Clicking on a method icon opens up the cases window which displays the cases which define the method. Another type of methods window called the Universal Methods contains methods which are not specific to any class. A method consists of a sequence of cases. The execution of a method proceeds by dataflow; that is, the operations in the cases window are executed as soon as all their input data is available. The operations which may be used may be 1) Primitives, which represent calls to predefined system methods, 2) calls to Universal Methods, 3) calls to methods in classes, 4) calls to Macintosh Toolbox routines, 5) constants, 6) Matching, which compares inputs and channels the dataflow depending if the match succeeds or fails, 7) Get Persistent, which accesses the value of a persistent, 8) Set Persistent, modifies the value of a persistent, 9) Multiplexes, which are used to repeat an operation, 10) Instance generators, 11) Get Attribute, which is used to access the value of an instance or class attribute, and 12) Set Attribute, which modifies the value of an instance or class attribute. Cases of a method are executed in order and according to the dataflow structure. Operations may be synchronized and controls may be used in various ways to control the flow of execution from one case to the next.

There are several datatypes supported by Prograph in addition to user defined classes:

• Numbers (integers or strings as appropriate)

• Lists, represented in Lisp notation.

• Strings

• Booleans

• Special types, NULL and NONE

• Mac types, used in toolbox calls

• System classes

Application Builder

Prograph’s Application Builder has two major components:

• A set of about 20 System Classes which provide the framework for building a complete Macintosh application.

• A set of interactive, WYSIWYG editors for creating graphic components such as menus, windows and window items. The editors support the basic Macintosh environment with no frills. Hierarchical menus are not supported with the editor, however, toolbox calls are available to achieve nearly every Mac toolbox effect. I counted about 573 calls in the Macintosh Toolbox list in the reference manual. Primitives may also be defined in Lightspeed C using a utility that is provided with Prograph. MacTutor will try to cover this in a future issue.

Environment

Prograph has a unique environment which enables you to run an application or method and observe each step as the program executes. Persistents and classes may be examined at each step by clicking on input or output terminals and roots (the circles which connect all of the case sequences together). If a method has not been defined, Prograph asks if you would like to define it. If not you may even artificially create inputs to “help” the program proceed. This allows you to get specific functions of a method working properly before moving on.

Icons in the editor are created by merely clicking in the window (class, method, attribute). This can be annoying if you click anywhere in the window where there is no icon (creating icons by mistake). Clicking on an icon selects it and double clicking opens a window to its structure,if it is a user-created object or onto a help window if it is a system provided object. Icons may be cut, copy and pasted or selected and dragged.

Prograph is indeed a great way to program the Macintosh. If you aren’t familiar with object-oriented programming, the tutorial that comes with Prograph is great. It is a bit hard to follow at times, but does a great job of actually teaching you what to do. It takes time though. The tutorial introduces several programming “challenges” which you should work to get the full benefit and to understand the programming concepts better.

Documentation comes as two manuals (approx 7" X 11"). The odd size makes it difficult to set on my desk without it flopping closed all the time (in my opinion). The reference manual thoroughly covers the primitives, Macintosh Toolbox support, Prograph’s menus/windows etc., but the index isn’t as extensive as it could be. The tutorial manual takes some time to get through, and starts off having you do things that you don’t know about until later (or until you figure it out) but I feel the material would be a great text/workbook for a course on OOP. Maybe that’s what Prograph’s authors are doing with it?

There is one major element missing from Prograph 1.2 a compiler. Sure, you can exercise your object-oriented abilities to your hearts content, but serious developers won’t be able to create real applications until a Prograph compiler is made available during the second quarter of 1990. Don’t let that stop you if you want to learn OOP. There is a good chance that the compiler will be out before this article appears here. There’s more to come I’m sure you’ll be seeing more of this product in the future, especially when the compiler becomes available.

TGS Systems

1127 Barrington Street, Suite 19

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Canada B3H 2P8

AppleLink: CDA0242

(902) 429-5642 FAX: 425-0561

Order toll free from the US:

1-800-565-1978

Price: $195 US + $5 shipping (for interpreter)

Prograph Compiler available 2nd quarter 1990

 

Community Search:
MacTech Search:

Software Updates via MacUpdate

Latest Forum Discussions

See All

Top Mobile Game Discounts
Every day, we pick out a curated list of the best mobile discounts on the App Store and post them here. This list won't be comprehensive, but it every game on it is recommended. Feel free to check out the coverage we did on them in the links... | Read more »
Price of Glory unleashes its 1.4 Alpha u...
As much as we all probably dislike Maths as a subject, we do have to hand it to geometry for giving us the good old Hexgrid, home of some of the best strategy games. One such example, Price of Glory, has dropped its 1.4 Alpha update, stocked full... | Read more »
The SLC 2025 kicks off this month to cro...
Ever since the Solo Leveling: Arise Championship 2025 was announced, I have been looking forward to it. The promotional clip they released a month or two back showed crowds going absolutely nuts for the previous competitions, so imagine the... | Read more »
Dive into some early Magicpunk fun as Cr...
Excellent news for fans of steampunk and magic; the Precursor Test for Magicpunk MMORPG Crystal of Atlan opens today. This rather fancy way of saying beta test will remain open until March 5th and is available for PC - boo - and Android devices -... | Read more »
Prepare to get your mind melted as Evang...
If you are a fan of sci-fi shooters and incredibly weird, mind-bending anime series, then you are in for a treat, as Goddess of Victory: Nikke is gearing up for its second collaboration with Evangelion. We were also treated to an upcoming... | Read more »
Square Enix gives with one hand and slap...
We have something of a mixed bag coming over from Square Enix HQ today. Two of their mobile games are revelling in life with new events keeping them alive, whilst another has been thrown onto the ever-growing discard pile Square is building. I... | Read more »
Let the world burn as you have some fest...
It is time to leave the world burning once again as you take a much-needed break from that whole “hero” lark and enjoy some celebrations in Genshin Impact. Version 5.4, Moonlight Amidst Dreams, will see you in Inazuma to attend the Mikawa Flower... | Read more »
Full Moon Over the Abyssal Sea lands on...
Aether Gazer has announced its latest major update, and it is one of the loveliest event names I have ever heard. Full Moon Over the Abyssal Sea is an amazing name, and it comes loaded with two side stories, a new S-grade Modifier, and some fancy... | Read more »
Open your own eatery for all the forest...
Very important question; when you read the title Zoo Restaurant, do you also immediately think of running a restaurant in which you cook Zoo animals as the course? I will just assume yes. Anyway, come June 23rd we will all be able to start up our... | Read more »
Crystal of Atlan opens registration for...
Nuverse was prominently featured in the last month for all the wrong reasons with the USA TikTok debacle, but now it is putting all that behind it and preparing for the Crystal of Atlan beta test. Taking place between February 18th and March 5th,... | Read more »

Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

AT&T is offering a 65% discount on the ne...
AT&T is offering the new iPhone 16e for up to 65% off their monthly finance fee with 36-months of service. No trade-in is required. Discount is applied via monthly bill credits over the 36 month... Read more
Use this code to get a free iPhone 13 at Visi...
For a limited time, use code SWEETDEAL to get a free 128GB iPhone 13 Visible, Verizon’s low-cost wireless cell service, Visible. Deal is valid when you purchase the Visible+ annual plan. Free... Read more
M4 Mac minis on sale for $50-$80 off MSRP at...
B&H Photo has M4 Mac minis in stock and on sale right now for $50 to $80 off Apple’s MSRP, each including free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – M4 Mac mini (16GB/256GB): $549, $50 off... Read more
Buy an iPhone 16 at Boost Mobile and get one...
Boost Mobile, an MVNO using AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks, is offering one year of free Unlimited service with the purchase of any iPhone 16. Purchase the iPhone at standard MSRP, and then choose... Read more
Get an iPhone 15 for only $299 at Boost Mobil...
Boost Mobile, an MVNO using AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks, is offering the 128GB iPhone 15 for $299.99 including service with their Unlimited Premium plan (50GB of premium data, $60/month), or $20... Read more
Unreal Mobile is offering $100 off any new iP...
Unreal Mobile, an MVNO using AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks, is offering a $100 discount on any new iPhone with service. This includes new iPhone 16 models as well as iPhone 15, 14, 13, and SE... Read more
Apple drops prices on clearance iPhone 14 mod...
With today’s introduction of the new iPhone 16e, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 14, 14 Pro, and SE. In response, Apple has dropped prices on unlocked, Certified Refurbished, iPhone 14 models to a... Read more
B&H has 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pros on sa...
B&H Photo is offering a $360-$410 discount on new 16-inch MacBook Pros with M4 Max CPUs right now. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – 16″ M4 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/1TB/... Read more
Amazon is offering a $100 discount on the M4...
Amazon has the M4 Pro Mac mini discounted $100 off MSRP right now. Shipping is free. Their price is the lowest currently available for this popular mini: – Mac mini M4 Pro (24GB/512GB): $1299, $100... Read more
B&H continues to offer $150-$220 discount...
B&H Photo has 14-inch M4 MacBook Pros on sale for $150-$220 off MSRP. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – 14″ M4 MacBook Pro (16GB/512GB): $1449, $150 off MSRP – 14″ M4... Read more

Jobs Board

All contents are Copyright 1984-2011 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.