| PAS refers to Pascal source code files, and | | | | that automates or provides features that make |
| programmers often find themselves needing to | | | | writing code easier, such as autocomplete. |
| compare one with another. Various utilities exist | | | | Even for advanced and experienced |
| to conduct PAS Comparison and provide other | | | | programmers, editing tools are still very useful for |
| helpful features. PAS files refer to the source | | | | tasks that would be tedious and long to do |
| code files in the Pascal programming language, | | | | without utilities. Spotting the tiny differences in |
| designed by Niklaus Wirth in the 1970s. Pascal was | | | | two otherwise identical large pieces of code is one |
| designed as a language for students, encouraging | | | | example. As the programs to be compared grow |
| the formation of good programming practices. | | | | larger with more and more lines, this task |
| With this in mind, Pascal was created small, | | | | becomes more and more difficult. Going over |
| efficient, and with inherent support for structuring | | | | each line trying to concentrate enough to find a |
| data and programming structures. Despite its | | | | single command or letter out of order cannot be |
| conceptualization as a teaching language, of | | | | easy or fun. With the use of comparison utilities, |
| course, Pascal could and was used in other | | | | all this tedium can be automated, and the |
| applications, notably the development of the MAC | | | | programmer is left to handle the more important |
| in its early stages. So, for various reasons, it is | | | | tasks. |
| often hand to have a utility on hand to do PAS | | | | These utilities are also handy when performing |
| comparison. | | | | updates and wanting to synchronize two or more |
| Many programmers find themselves needing to | | | | separate programs. With all the versions floating |
| compare different pieces of code, for different | | | | around in various places, trying to keep track of |
| reasons. For instance, Pascal is intended to be a | | | | all changes is a little too much for just one human |
| learning language, and code comparison can | | | | programmer. By using comparison utilities, it |
| facilitate learning even further. Using comparison | | | | becomes easier to determine the important |
| utilities, a student would be able to analyze | | | | changes between versions, and differences |
| different programs to find out their similarities and | | | | between codes in different locations. Debugging a |
| differences. Then the behavior of these programs | | | | newly updated program is also made much easier. |
| would give a clue as to how these differences | | | | Tracking changes made to a single set of |
| affect the program as a whole. The different | | | | programs by different programmers can also be |
| structures found in the compared programs would | | | | facilitated by the proper tools and would be quite |
| also begin to make a little more sense. | | | | a big hassle otherwise. |
| Apart from just doing plain comparisons, most | | | | Most of these utilities are designed for specific |
| code editing tools also provide syntax-based | | | | programming languages, such as Pascal. Thus, |
| highlighting and other helpful features. Most of | | | | they are more often than not able to analyze and |
| these features are geared towards making the | | | | effectively understand a program written in the |
| source code more easily readable by humans. | | | | appropriate language. PAS comparison, code |
| Indents, color coding, and other small tweaks can | | | | management, and many other labor saving |
| really make a difference in the readability of code, | | | | features make these utilities invaluable to |
| especially for newer programmers or students. | | | | programmers. |
| These editors may also come with an interface | | | | |