[Info-vax] VAX Macro to C conversion

[Bill Gunshannon]

On 7/10/19 10:03 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
> On 7/10/2019 8:20 PM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
>> On 7/10/19 5:22 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
>>> On 7/10/2019 2:10 PM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
>>>> On 7/10/19 11:40 AM, Dave Froble wrote:
>>>>> On 7/10/2019 9:34 AM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> * no string type
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So what?  What's so great about a string type?  Fortran
>>>>>> didn't have it until 77.  Pascal didn't have it until UCSD.
>>>>>
>>>>> Strings are vital in some applications.  Perhaps not in number
>>>>> crunching.  Try a name and address without strings.  Maybe you'll be
>>>>> cleaver enough to use GPS coordinates for the address, but for the
>>>>> name?
>>>>>
>>>>> Try writing a compiler without strings.
>>>>
>>>> Nobody said there shouldn't be strings.  You are free to declare
>>>> any type pf string you want in C.  null-terminated, descriptor,
>>>> counted, whatever you want.  Decide what is best for your use
>>>> and create it.  The programmer is tied to only one type of string.
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>> * non type safe enum
>>>>>>> * lots of old and bad design in standard RTL
>>>>>>> * lots of undefined and implementation specific behavior
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Even Ada has that.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> makes it much easier to write code that result in bad runtime
>>>>>>> error than most other common languages of today.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Do I really need to go on?  Stop blaming a language for the
>>>>>> incompetence of the programmer.
>>>>>
>>>>> Of course a programmer must be competent, but, why not make things
>>>>> easier?
>>>>
>>>> Because frequently (most times) "making it easier" involves 
>>>> hamstringing
>>>> the programmer.
>>>
>>> Sorry Bill, I got to call BS on that.
>>>
>>> As an example, yes, string descriptors can be used in C.  But as far
>>> as I know, which isn't much, the programmer must set up the
>>> descriptors. However, in Basic, it's not required to declare a string,
>>> just use it, and it's there.  Now, how does this case of "easier"
>>> hamstring the programmer?
>>>
>>
>> If the string is defined in a certain way, like it is in BASIC,
>> your hamstrung if you want to use some other form of string.  If
>> you wanted to pass a null-terminated string from BASIC to some
>> other language, how would you do it?
>>
>> bill
>>
>>
> 
> Piece of cake ...
> 
> Have a fixed length string as a buffer, set it equal to the string + 
> Chr$(0%), and pass it by the required method, By Ref, By Value, or even 
> By Desc.
> 
> Next ???
> 
> 

And, as with so many other languages, that only works with one
particular version of the language.

bill