Re: "C" vrs ADA

[jb@rti.UUCP (Jeff Bartlett)]

In article <1937@sfsup.UUCP>, mpl@sfsup.UUCP (M.P.Lindner) writes:
> [ the following are excerpts - see the original articles for context ]
> 
> ...... I do take exception, however to the statements that
> Ada is an "object oriented" language.  Yes, it is, but it was implemented
> no better than that of C++.  Example:  Try to make a generic merge sort
> which can sort floats and integers.  Unless this has been fixed since I
> learned Ada, it can't be done!  The reason I was given is a generic type
> can only assume assignment and equality.  If we add constraints, we must
> specify either integral types or floating types.  Little inconsistancies
> make life hell for programmers, as well as conflicting with the stated intent
> of the methodology.
> 
> Mike Lindner
> attunix!mpl

What about ......

   generic
      type ITEM is private;
      with function GREATER(A,B : ITEM) return BOOLEAN is <>;
   package SORTING is

      type VECTOR is array(NATURAL range <>) of ITEM;

      procedure MERGE_SORT( A, B : VECTOR; RESULTS : out VECTOR );

   end SORTING;

This generic package can be instatiated for fixed, floating and record types.

Jeff Bartlett
Center for Digital Systems Research
Research Triangle Institute
jb@rti.rti.org