The Heap

This document is the July 1985 issue of "The Heap," the newsletter for the Languages and Tools Special Interest Group (SIG) of DECUS (Digital Equipment Computer Users Society).

Summary of Contents:

• Editor's Notes: Includes an update that this is likely the final issue of "The Heap" as it currently exists, as DECUS plans to consolidate various SIG newsletters.
• AI in Engineering: A note regarding a special issue of the SIGART newsletter focused on Artificial Intelligence in Engineering.
• VAXintosh Futures: A letter from the VAXintosh Working Group discussing the potential for creating a "VAXintosh" (a VAX system with Macintosh-like functionality) and seeking input from the VMS community.
• FORTRAN-8X Debate: A letter expressing strong opinions on the future of FORTRAN and advocating for modernization over strict backward compatibility.

• Technical Content:

  • A comprehensive list of bug corrections for the second printing of The TeXbook.
  • A technical guide on TPU (Text Processing Utility) programming techniques, covering topics such as efficient searching, buffer management, and extending the EVE/EDT interface.
  • A VAX Ada field test report and slides from the Spring 1985 DECUS symposium, summarizing performance statistics, user feedback, and insights into the Ada compilation process.

• Administrative:

  • A summary of the Languages & Tools Wishlist results and the formal responses provided by DEC.
  • Information on the upcoming wishlist survey, featuring a questionnaire for members to submit their feedback to the new coordinator.