[Info-vax] VMS Software Q1 '23 Update

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 1/29/2023 9:49 AM, bill wrote:
> On 1/28/2023 8:39 PM, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
>> On 1/28/2023 8:28 PM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
>>> One of the absolute FIRST things that I was told about floating point
>>> variables in my first programming class was to NEVER use them to 
>>> represent
>>> money.
>>
>> It is known to be problematic.
>>
>> But there are 3 cases where it happens anyway:
>> - the developer does not care
> 
> Wrong developer

I agree.

>> - the language used does not have a decimal type and
>>    integers with implied decimal is considered to
>>    cumbersome
> 
> Wrong language for the job

I agree, but 40 years ago there were a lot of common
languages without decimal type. Probably easier today
as most common languages has decimal - C and C++ being the
exception.

>> - decimal is actually used in general, but certain
>>    calculations temporarily move over in floating
>>    point (like some interest calculations)
> 
> Wrong language for the job

I think it would be more risky to do the interest calculations
in decimal than in floating point. Decimals could easily
loose precision if developer not extremely careful about
decimals.

> Obviously, all of these can be fixed properly.  Guess the concepts of
> right tool for the job and due diligence no longer carry any sway.

Probably more an old times problem than a today problem. Newer
languages just have it even if they are not targeted towards
real business applications.

Arne