[from an e-mail of Chip Davis, president of the Rexx Language Association,
cf. <http://www.RexxLA.org>, which he sent out to the presenters of the
12th International Rexx Symposium, April/May 2001.]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Note: I just realized that I sent this to the wrong list.  My apologies
to those who are only now seeing it and to those who are on both lists and
will see it twice.  OTOH, only Gil has responded with his info, so maybe
it's just as well that some of you get it again... :-)

Here is the programming specification for the Great Rexx GUI ShootOut:
simulate the Magic 8-Ball.  If you didn't have one of these toys as a kid,
the basic algorithm is:

 1. accept an arbitrary string of words
 2. validate that it is a question (no AI here, just check that the last
    character is "?")
 3. display a random answer from a file of the twenty answers below.
 4. Repeat until the user opts out.

Your app must include the appropriate error and help facilities.

An enhancement would be validating a password then allowing the user to add
answers to the file.

The use of graphics, animation, sound, etc, are at your discretion but
remember that the idea is to show how easy it is to write GUI apps in Rexx
on any platform.  Convoluted code or ugly interfaces won't impress anyone.

Since I'm doing it in the hardest environment (Classic Rexx on OS/2 with no
vendor software) the rest of you should have no problems.  And no, I have
not gotten mine to work yet.

Please send me a note with language, platform, and packages you will be
using so I can plan the demonstration time (basically lunchtime Tuesday).

-Chip-

Magic 8-Ball Answers
--------------------
As I see it, yes.
Ask again later.
Better not tell you now.
Cannot predict now.
Concentrate and ask again.
Don't count on it.
It is certain.
It is decidedly so.
Most likely.
My reply is no.
My sources say no.
Outlook good.
Outlook not so good.
Reply hazy, try again.
Signs point to yes.
Very doubtful.
Without a doubt.
Yes.
Yes, definitely.
You may rely on it.




