[rescue] PostScript [was Re: OS X is certified UNIX]

[der Mouse]

> At the end of the day, [Postscript]'s just forth with some of the
> stack semantics changed, a couple of minor syntax introductions, and
> a bunch of graphics primitives.

I see the changes as a lot more fundamental than that.  To pick just
the things that come to mind immediately:

- The return stack is completely inaccessible; there is nothing at all
   like r> or >r.

- PostScript is run-time typed, instead of having just one type (the
   machine word).

- Dictionaries as first-class language objects, and the accompanying
   dictionary stack.

- The elimination of immediate words and compiler mode in favour of
   parser syntax and executable arrays.

- The use of garbage collection instead of manual storage management.

Depending on the context, of course, which of these are benefits and
which disadvantages can vary.

/~\ The ASCII				der Mouse
\ / Ribbon Campaign
 X  Against HTML	       mouse at rodents.montreal.qc.ca
/ \ Email!	     7D C8 61 52 5D E7 2D 39  4E F1 31 3E E8 B3 27 4B