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From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa nor Jeff)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers
Subject: Visual Assembler a big hit
Date: 2 Apr 2000 04:49:55 GMT
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[ApF]  Computer industry analysts remained shocked
and surprised by the huge success of IBM's new
Visual Assembler product.  Sales are triple expectations,
current inventory is completely sold out, with long 
back orders flowing in.

  Visual Assembler was developed as a side utility
for a small group of specialized customers.  Assembler
language programming is the "Latin" of computer
programming, used for highly specialized and intricate
work.  Uses include writing operating systems, and
highly complex work such as airline reservations.
Visual Assembler allows programmers the convenience
of GUI development yet retains the incredible power
of down-to-the-bit programming.

  The new product will run on most major computer
platforms, and produce programs capable of running
on different platforms.  Previously, assembler
language had to be developed on the machine it
was intended for.  The new products supports
IBM's System/390 (with backward compatibility for
S/370 and S/360), IBM's legacy 1401/1410 and 7090
systems, Intel's 8086, 8088, 286, 386, 486, and 
Pentium processors, Sun SPARC midrange systems,
and IBM's AS/400.  When equipped with a plotter
output, the package will draw wiring diagrams for
IBM's full line of unit record devices including
its flagship 407 accounting machine.


  Customers buying the package admitted they've always
dreamed of having the incredible processing power and
control Assembler offers, but didn't have the skill
level to use it--until now.  Easy pop-up windows and
explanations allow the programmer to select the
best instruction and modifier operands for a task.
A programmer familier with Intel internal architecture
can write a program in that context and the package
will translate to optimum assembler usage for any
other desired machine.

  Previously, many programmers used "C" and Unix,
originally developed by the Bell Telephone Company
in the 1960s.  But many programmers were secretly
uncomfortable with that language's origins.  Some
resented using a language developed for use by
"Ma Bell", popularized by Laugh-In's "Ernestine".
Others resented using a language developed during
the decadent hippie era 1960s and prefer the staid, tried
and true "Eisenhower-era" Assembler styles.

  IBM's new package is seen by industry stock analysts
as a direct blow to Microsoft's pride.  Microsoft had
been king of the "Visual" product with items such as
Visual BASIC.  Though company officials deny it,
Microsoft's founder Bill Gates is said to be furious
at IBM's incursion in his territory and vowing
revenge through the offering of Microsoft versions
of MVS, COBOL, CICS, TSO, and IMS for the mainframe.
Analysts question whether this will be possible since
no one at Microsoft has ever seen an IBM mainframe, let
alone programmed one.  

  Computer tinkerers have been fascinated by the
product's more arcane features, such as generating
IBM 407 wiring charts.  IBM has received several
orders for 407 accounting machine systems and associated
support hardware.  The directors of information systems
of both Walmart and Sears, the nation's largest 
retailers, indicate plans to return to punched card
processing of sales to gain greater efficiency and
eliminate long lines when the scanners don't work.
  Visual Assembler has also bolstered sales of IBM's
languishing children's product line, "Petey the 
Punch Card" stuffed animal toys.  IBM had to dig
up the sewing patterns for "Colleen the Collator",
"Izzy the Interpreter", and "Sally the Sorter" and
rush them into production.  These toys were originally
developed to teach kids about punched card processing,
but fell into disfavor when kids found sex on the
Internet.