RPL second impressions (HP 28)

[Valentin Albillo]

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Hi, Thomas:

(06-29-2018 02:49 PM)Thomas Okken Wrote:  

(06-29-2018 01:08 PM)Gerson W. Barbosa Wrote:  « DUP 2 / FP IF NOT NOT THEN DUP √ 1 DO 2 + 3 DUPN SWAP OVER [...] END SWAP DROP MOD NOT END NOT »

This is a perfect example of what some people dislike about RPL:
in order to write efficient programs, you have to avoid expressions and use stack manipulation instead. The resulting programs are hard to write and even harder to read.

Couldn't agree more. Most every RPL (probably an acronym of 'RePeLent') program of non-trivial size totally seems an entry for an "Obfuscated C" contest. Matter of fact I've seen actual OC entries much easier to understand than the usual RPL garbage-like "... R\->I 1 + OBJ\-> 1 SWAP 2 PICK3 ROT 1 + ^ 1 - OVER ...". Even Saturn assembler is much clearer in comparison.

And not only are RPL programs of non-trivial size hard to write and hard to read, they're almost impossible to understand and edit unless:

(1) you wrote the program and no more than a few days have elapsed since you did, and
(2) you used lots of named variables and EVALs of algebraic expressions, and
(3) you wrote down excruciatingly extensive docs and commented most every line

And let's not begin with so-called "System RPL", which makes "User RPL" seem like Tiny BASIC in comparison. XD

Regards.
V.
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