What is RNA?
It is a small database system like a LISP system, though without a 'eval' function.
Its structure has been inspired by the RTL expressions inside the GNU compiler
and by the object system of the self programming language. It is trying to reveal
some sort common structure inside different languages expressing networked data
structures.
The problem about usual data structures in C is that it is difficult to store
and retrieve them from files. When looking at Linux configuration files, e.g. sendmail. cd
or termcap, everybody is writing her own small parser from scratch.
So I got to the idea to create something that is flexible enough to process
the GCC RTL expressions (indeed, they are a pretty good idea). RNA is in use for
reading configuration files of some programs that have a quite complex configuration
files.
On the other side, it is something very simple and archaic. It does not even
have a garbage collector. It uses the good old GNU obstacks. Just to keep it simple
and transparent. Nevertheless, RNA is capable to express everything that can be
found in HTML, VRML, LISP, and what's now XML. It's far less bloated, however.
It is like the biological RNA in the primeval water that bootstrapped itself into
life.
RNA is distributed under the GNU General Public License.
Contributions are welcome.
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Deutsch | Gordon
| Radionetworkprocessor
| Self Language
| Engineering Consulting
