Prolog Advantages?

[lep...@hotmail.com]

Hello Everyone. I've been a programmer for several years but I'm new to
Prolog. I would like to utilize its capability in the world of programming
but before doing so, I was hoping that someone could point out Prolog's
advantages over other programming languages such as C++ of VB. Any
recommendations as to what books or web-site I can take a look at as a good
source of information.

Thanks in advance. Any input will be greatly appreciated.

-JRD

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[Michael Covington]

Prolog is not a substitute for general-purpose languages. On the other
hand, Prolog can do some things easily that are very hard to implement in
conventional languages -- basically, things involving knowledge
representation and logical deduction.

It's sort of like comparing C++ to a database language -- they are not
designed for the same jobs. Prolog meshes well with databases but is not
designed for *that* job either.

I know that's just a negative answer... a positive description of what
Prolog is good at would take a long time!

--
Michael A. Covington - Artificial Intelligence Center - University of
Georgia
http://www.ai.uga.edu/~mc http://www.mindspring.com/~covington <><

[cahu...@cc.ysu.edu]

I have found Prolog surpasses languages like C++ and database languages in
its ability to:

1. represent implicit relationships
2. discover implicit relationships that are not obvious
3. pattern matching
4. represent multiple solutions to a single problem
5. work with incomplete(uninstantiated) data structures
6. polymorphism (believe it or not!)

In addition to these very significant advantages. When Prolog is used
for logic programming(to the extent that can be used in this fashion) It clears
the mind. It helps the programmer to form a more powerful picture of both
the problem and the solution. It allows the programmer to look at a programming
task within the confines of a world that is defined by the facts and relationships
in the Prolog program. To the extent that the programmer has done a good job
in representing that world the Prolog representation of the programming task
will be refreshing.

In many ways proper use of the language Prolog improves the programmer's
ability to reason.

"Creating a world: giving form to intention, manifesting a dream, visualizing
the unseen... this is a job for the gods, is it not? We are only human, but as
we develop this technology and build worlds for individual and social use, we
assume certain responsibilities."

Virtual Worlds
Meredith Bricken

Cameron Hughes
cahu...@cc.ysu.edu