Re: Reconsidering assignment

[Georg Bauhaus <rm.tsoh+bauhaus@maps.futureapps.de>]

On Tue, 2007-06-12 at 10:31 +0200, Dmitry A. Kazakov wrote:
> On Mon, 11 Jun 2007 14:12:09 -0700, Maciej Sobczak wrote:

> > procedure P(X, Y : Real) with X*X + Y*Y <= 1;
> > procedure P(X, Y : Real);
> >
> > The idea was to have some assistance from the language for the proper
> > selection of overloaded P (one is for arguments that fall withing the
> > unit circle, and the other is for the rest).
> 
> This cannot work because overloading resolution happens at compile-time,
> while the conditions of matching, in your case are general run-time
> expressions.

As you explain further below, this is about template choice
computation by the compiler, I think.

> Yet another point: P is a polymorphic subprogram. Various overloading are
> implementations of. The condition clause controls the choice. Does not it
> remind you anything? Make Real a class!

Close to this is the Eiffel principle of using one name one and only
name for one entity, no overloading at all; if polymorphism is needed,
use overriding.

What about argument pattern matching?