[Info-vax] BASIC (and Horizon)

[Dave Froble]

On 1/30/2024 9:40 AM, Chris Townley wrote:
> On 30/01/2024 07:06, Dave Froble wrote:
>> On 1/29/2024 8:02 PM, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
>>> On 1/29/2024 7:50 PM, kludge at panix.com wrote:
>>>> =?UTF-8?Q?Arne_Vajh=C3=B8j?=  <arne at vajhoej.dk> wrote:
>>>>> The code is VB6.
>>>>>
>>>>> But none of the problems are Basic specific. It is possible
>>>>> to write the same bad code in C or Fortran or whatever.
>>>>>
>>>>> So it just shows that there are some really really bad programmers out
>>>>> there.
>>>>
>>>> I have worked with people who could write spaghetti Fortran in any
>>>> programming language available.
>>>
>>> "A real Fortran programmer can write Fortran in any language"
>>>
>>> Every time this comes up I post this Fortran/Pascal code:
>>>
>>>       PROGRAM GOTOFUN(INPUT,OUTPUT);
>>>       LABEL L731,L113,L247,L588,L761,L922,L399,L601;
>>>       VAR LBL:INTEGER;
>>>       VAR I:INTEGER;
>>>       BEGIN
>>> L731: GOTO L113;
>>>       LBL:=399;
>>> L113: I:=0;
>>>       WRITELN(I);
>>> L247: LBL:=601;
>>>       IF(I<0)THEN GOTO L588 ELSE IF(I=0)THEN GOTO L922 ELSE GOTO L399;
>>> L588: I:=I+1;
>>>       WRITELN(I);
>>>       GOTO L399;
>>> L761: CASE(LBL)OF 399: GOTO L399; 601: GOTO L601; END;
>>> L922: I:=I+1;
>>>       WRITELN(I);
>>>       CASE(I)OF 1: GOTO L588; 2: GOTO L399; 3: GOTO L922; END;
>>> L399: GOTO L761;
>>> L601: END.
>>>
>>> :-)
>>>
>>> Arne
>>>
>>
>> I'm amused every time the GoTo bashing begins.
>>
>> Not only is there nothing wrong when using a branch operation, when
>> appropriate, just look at the assembler listings after compilation.  Branching
>> is just about all assembler does, as required.
>>
>> Now, I won't defend what I and most consider improper use of the poor
>> misunderstood GoTo statement.
>>
>
> But unless used very carefully, it can create horrible spaghetti like code, and
> is also easy to screw up.
>
> Using proper structured constructs is much better - easier to read as well,
> hence better maintainability.
>
>

Prey tell, what structured construct will perform cleanup and exit?  I always 
expected a return from routines and such.

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
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