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Date: Wed, 08 Oct 2003 13:54:00 -0400
From: Hyman Rosen <hyrosen@mail.com>
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Subject: Re: Counter-proposal for variable arrays
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Date: 2003-10-08T13:54:00-04:00
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Dmitry A. Kazakov wrote:
> Only when you create a concrete instance of the type, an object,
 > you have to constrain it, i.e. to say which types are allowed there
 > or how many characters it will hold. This is the whole idea.

So now you will have arrays whose stride as well as bounds
is a runtime property. We should equally allow records with
unconstrained field types, and let the constraints get set
upon creation. Then the field offsets themselves could be
runtime properties too. Then we could have classwide objects
in records.

It's all doable. I guess the question is whether you get
enough bang for the buck to make it worthwhile to specify
and implement. My inclination is no, but anyone who really
wants it could have a go at the GNAT sources and make a
proof of concept.