JazzLRM_... is a series of web pages describing the Jazz programming language in detail, forming the design specification of the Jazz language during Jazz development and providing right-click Help after implementation. This document, JazzLRM_Preface, is an introduction to the Jazz Language. It will be helpful to read these LRM pages in conjunction with the User Guide pages, JazzUG_ …
Where the LRM series provide a specification, the UG series
provide a general description of how to use Jazz for programming, illustrating
concepts and showing simple examples in a tutorial style. Use the LRM
series like a dictionary to find out the rules, use the UG series like a
textbook for learning the system concepts.
The first section, Introduction, should be read first. Later
sections are designed for reference rather than tutorial, and can be read in
any order. The document contains four sections:
Describes the terms and
introduces the concepts that are used in these pages to describe the Jazz
Language. What is a Comment? A Statement?
A Program?
Describes the DEFINE statement and its options. This gives MANASYS Jazz its power and is its most important statement.
These pages are also used as on-line Help when you right-click a statement.
All statements except Assign start with a keyword.
Describes a few Jazz features that apply to several statements: