[Explain embedding a scripting engine in existing application to achieve flexible combination of fixed elements. This raises questions: which scripting engine to embed? How to do so? What does this make possible?]
Good references:
* John Ousterhout's original 1998 paper on scripting languages
[L1 ]
* ActiveState's 2004 updated paper on dynamic languages, with good points
on why such languages are useful for much more than "scripting" [L2 ]
[Three examples of approach in conventional Java-oriented application development: "Tcl your Java apps" [L3 ] and "Tips for Scripting Java with Jython" http://www.onjava.com/pub/a/onjava/2002/03/27/jython.html ] and, by same author, "Introduction to Jython" [L4 ].]
[Much need interesting write-up of hardware-oriented embedded examples--space shots, submarines, factory controllers, ...]
Scripting vs. programming: I'm not sure whether there is a clear distinction - certainly you can do both in Tcl. Maybe the following criteria make sense (RS):
Unfortunately, management in some companies make the distinguishment of scripting == trivial work versus programming (in a real language) == work worthy of promotion and raise
AK An older essay of mine abut the topic, a bit dated [L5 ]. Feel free to move this to the wiki and then update/correct it.
"Lua Lights Up Telecom Testing" [L6 ] hints at more general scripting concepts.
"Adding Tcl/Tk to a C application" is important reading that explains the inapplicability of common scripting notions.
"Why Scripting Languages Represent the Most Important Part of Open Source Movement" [L7 ]
"Why Scripting" touches on the value of "dual-level" programming.