[groovy2shoes]

BAE Systems has a product called NetReveal that includes a compiler called "DataServer" which compiles a large subset of SAS into Java. Legend has it that the original author wrote the first version of DataServer in 6 hours on a train ride to visit his mother.

As a programmer, I was constantly frustrated by it. I felt that SAS as a language was pretty restrictive, especially when your algorithm wasn't a natural fit for the dataset model that it uses. It was like trying to shove a square peg into a round hole. It wasn't uncommon for me to sneak some Java straight into the output, but that wasn't really a sustainable / maintainable way to use it.

So your suggestion is doable, but I'm not convinced it's worthwhile.

[opensandwich]

That is unfortunate. I have heard of NetReveal (I used the Detica platform at my previous job) never new that about DataServer though!

I suppose the demand just isn't there. If only more SAS users at least had an interest in programming...