Simplifying Things: LP/CLP scripts

``Scripting'' languages (perl, csh, ...) popular for writing CGI apps:
- Often only small- to medium-sized apps.
- The network is slow anyway.
- No compilation necessary.
- Small ``executable'' size (source file!).
LP/CLP systems are excellent candidates for scripting languages: built-in grammars, databases, ...
Most LP/CLP systems can easily be used as scripting languages: some have it (e.g., CIAO), others can be adapted easily with some user-level code (e.g., we have adapted the CIAO solution for SICStus and made it freely available on ftp):
```
#!/usr/local/bin/lpshell
main(_) :- 
        write('Content-type: text/html'), nl, nl,
        write('<HTML>'),
        write('Hello <B>world</B>.'),
        write('</HTML>'), nl.
```
lpshell is an executable (e.g., a saved state) which skips the first line, loads (consults or compiles) the rest of the file, and starts at main/1.
Can easily be made to ``cache'' compilations using bytecode files.
(very useful also to write ``filters'' -e.g., for unix pipes-, etc.)

<herme@fi.upm.es>-< webmaster@clip.dia.fi.upm.es>
Last updated on Mon Mar 31 20:49:44 MET DST 1997