On Wed, 06 Aug 2003 11:56:48 -0400, Jack A wrote:

Informix 4GL was/is Informix's Fourth Generation programming language.
It includes embedded SQL in its syntax as well as a non-procedural report
writing language and non-procedural forms management features and a forms
compiler. It is for developing database applications and is excellent
for interactive data maintenance apps and simple reports. The language
is BASIC-like (as is SPL for that matter). The existence of 4GL and
ESQL/C are the main reasons that Informix never felt pressure to expand
SPL into a more complete programming language ala Oracle. Anything one
would want to write a complex SPL procedure for could as easily be
written in 4GL. Also 4GL comes in three flavors (originally 2): C4gl
which produces a fully compiled executable or library functions which can
call and be called with 'C' functions, R4GL a pseudo-compiled p-machine
based version with a linkable p-machine into which you can incorporate
'C' functions you have written (R4GL includes a source level 4GL
debugger), and D4GL which is a fully graphical user interface
implementation from 4Js. Informix 4GL, originally a proprietary
language, now enjoys support from three third party vendors (4Js, Querix,
and the Open Source Aubit 4GL project) all of which also interface with
databases other than Informix.

Art S. Kagel

> Whats the difference between 4GL and SPL. I know SPL is used for writing
> stored procedures. Whats 4GL for and why is it needed.
> Normally the following are provided with databases...
>
> 1. A stored procedure language ( SPL ) 2. A C interface ( Esql -
> C)
>
> Whats the deal with 4GL ?
>
> Thanks in advance