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From: anewman@epidigm.geg.mot.com (M. Alan Newman)
Subject: Re: Comments on LPA Prolog?
Organization: Motorola
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 1995 07:13:54 -0700
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mtrocomm@gold.interlog.com (Michael Low) wrote:

> Does anyone have any experiences or comments to share regarding Logic
> Programming Associates's Prolog tools for the Mac and Windows PCs?  I am
> looking for a mature product that will support commercial applications. 
> Thanks.

I have done a significant amount of work on LPA MacProlog over the last
two years.  Like every good Prolog system I have used (ALS, Arity,
Quintus, Sictus), LPA has a few quirks, but overall, it is an outstanding
product for developing large comercial products on the Mac.  It runs well
on the PowerMacs, but is not yet native (should be soon, though).  

Their manuals are good, and clearly show whatever differences there are
between the Mac, DOS and Windows versions (and also any differences with
Quintus).   Support via email has be very good, with email replies usually
within a day, and the occasional bugs normally patched and delivered
within a couple of weeks (by disk, from London to Phoenix).

I have not used their DOS or Windows version, but the manuals show
extensive support for DOS and Windows specific features, just as the Mac
specific features (toolbox, balloon help, Apple Events, etc.) are well
supported in MacProlog (with an occasional stretch of the Apple human
interface guidelines!).

The two most outstanding features I have found with MacProlog are the
simplicity of generating a single file stand-alone executable and the
full-compiled-speed- leaps-between-spypoints debugging.  (Both of these
features are also found in ALS Prolog on Unix.)
-- 
M. Alan Newman (anewman@epidigm.geg.mot.com)  Speaking for myself.
Motorola, GSTG, Diversified Technology Division
