[[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?]]



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Good references:

   * John Ousterhout's original 1998 paper on scripting languages at http://home.pacbell.net/ouster/scripting.html
   * ActiveState's 2004 updated paper on dynamic languages, with good points on why such languages are useful for much more than "scripting" at http://www.activestate.com/Company/NewsRoom/whitepapers_ADL.plex

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[[Three examples of approach in conventional [Java]-oriented
application development:
"Tcl your Java apps"
[http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-03-2001/jw-0323-tcl.html?]
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"
[http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/jythoness/chapter/ch01.html].]]


[[Much need interesting write-up of hardware-oriented embedded
examples--space shots, submarines, factory controllers, ...]]
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'''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]):
   * '''Scripting''': single file, few or no procs
   * '''Programming''': Structuring with libraries ([auto_index] or [package]); almost every code is in procs

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 [http://www.purl.org/net/akupries/ics_lang.html]. Feel free to move this to the wiki and then update/correct it.




"[Lua] Lights Up Telecom Testing"
[http://click.unixreview.email-publisher.com/maaana8aaSftLa2scaRb/]
hints at more general scripting concepts.


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"[Adding Tcl/Tk to a C application]" is important reading that
explains the '''in'''applicability of common scripting notions.


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"Why Scripting Languages Represent
the Most Important Part of Open Source Movement"
[http://www.softpanorama.org/People/scripting_guants.shtml]
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"[Why Scripting]" touches on the value of "dual-level" programming.

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We call them [Dynamic Languages] now.  :-)

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[Category Discussion]