Programming (from Fraktal SAS Programming)

What is Programming?

Apart from literature's extensively discussed and complex structured answers we shall restrict ourselves here to a minimalistic idea:

• 1st: Programming is talking to a machine in a way the machine 'follows' your advice without any exception.
• 2nd: Programming is authoring code in a way that owns and shows mathematical clarity by applying structures for conditional branching and repetitive execution of similar steps.

Currently, SAS offers at least two means that support this notion, as well as environments where programming can be done:

• The Data Step Language ("DSL") is a full-fledged programming language of 3rd generation with some appreciated convenience features.
• The "Macro Facility" uses a ninety-nine percent similar syntax to process character data that - might - represent your code, ending up in a code generator.