What is POOL and who it is intended for

POOL is a dialect of the LOGO programming language (...but what is LOGO?). Similarly to its prototype, POOL is intended for learning programming in the first place.
For more demanding users it is a language that supports rapid design of algorithms for parallel calculations, multi-agent systems and data visualizations.
The main aim which we have in mind in developing POOL is a quickly achieved result, at any level.

• First steps in programming.

  The basics of POOL are the same as in the case of popular LOGO dialects; you may already know them, but if you do not - learning the basic commands takes only few minutes. Then, you can decide how deep your exploration of the language will be.
  POOL is intended also for those who are already familiar with the basics, e.g. while programming in Scratch or Pocket Code, and now are looking for next stage of learning.

• Larger projects than in popular LOGO versions

  Convenient elements of syntax (among others: indexing and assigning operators) have been introduced in POOL, as an alternative for verbose syntax of primitives known from LOGO.
  Programs in POOL are compiled - the advantage of efficiency over execution of the interpreted program is huge! At the same time, typical features of LOGO have been preserved – easy dynamic coding and interactive commands line.
  POOL is object-oriented: real classes can be created here, multiple inheritance can be applied, variables can be divided into public or protected ones, and the functions are virtual.

• Parallel calculations

  Objects in POOL execute their functions in parallel, using the natural syntax of an object-oriented language. In comparison with other programming languages, this is the most significant difference. A complier and task scheduling algorithm deal with tasks distribution and calculation results synchronization, but the programmer can use own synchronization schemes as well.

We also want the development tools to support quick work. Minimal, clear and useful interface was the primary goal in the development.

Information on LOGO in the Internet

LOGO by Wikipedia: English version and slightly shorter Polish version.
Comprehensive handbook about programming, mainly based on LOGO (in English).
And, of course, the LOGO Foundation and our two favourite although discontinued implementations that we cannot skip:
   - UCB Logo
   - Elica (gone from the web).