[Wolf Wejgaard]: 
Yet another programming system? Holon is new in [Tcl] but is based on over 15 years experience with Holon[forth] under DOS.

Main features:

   * The source is stored in a database. 
   * The program is presented in a book-like structure of modules (chapters), sections and units. The units are the actual program (procedures, functions, variables, objects, methods, ...); the modules and sections bring order to the collection of units.
   * Holon keeps track of changes.

See http://holonforth.com/new/holon.html for details. Holon is presently available as a free [starpack] for
[Microsoft Windows] (MIT license).

This is Holon, handling its own source:

[http://holonforth.com/new/images/listview.gif]

Acknowledgements: Holon is built on [Wikit].
It started by adding a book-structure ([HolonWikit]), then the wikit pages turned into program containers for source and comments. The hardwired links are replaced by dynamic links to page titles=names. Comments are edited and saved in Tk format; source is saved unformatted. Some Wikit features remain. 
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'''Remarks'''

Storing source in a database makes sense, particularly if a program consists of a large number of units. (The number of units depends on the size of your definitions. If you don't mind writing procedures that span a printed page or more, you are probably better off with text files and a fancy editor.) I prefer many short definitions. Small procedures are simple to write, simple to read and understand, simple to test, simple to change. And: if I store the units in a database, it is a simple matter to keep track of the multitude and to implement useful features for efficient program development.

Handling source in a database is not new, of course. It is common in [OO] systems ([Smalltalk] and others)
It is used in the powerful [Tcl] [introspection] tools and development systems, which work on the internal database in Tcl. Isn't this general: Every modular program is turned into a database as soon as it is converted to code (interpreted/compiled). I keep wondering: Why is source still handled on text files? Are there any real advantages, or is it a matter of software folklore?

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[Category Application] |  [Category Dev. Tools]