• Command Types
    • Midas commands typically come in one of three types:
      Intrinsics
      Simple run-to-completion commands.
      Primitives
      More complex commands intended for processing a data file, providing a graphical display or handling a network connection.
      Primitives written for X-Midas are often called "host" primitives.
      Primitives written for NeXtMidas that handle graphics are often called "graphical" primitives.
      Macros
      This is the "glue code" used to combine the functionality of a number of intrinsics and primitives into a single application.
      Macros are written in a simple Macro language that matches the syntax used in the shell.
      Macros define the pipes (and pipe sizes) used to pass data between various primitives.
    • Many Midas frameworks indicate a command's type using a one-letter abbreviation (e.g. M=Macro, I=Intrinsic, etc.) this letter is called the command support.