Re: Printing Enum Variable Re: Linux World

[David Starner <dstarner98@aasaa.ofe.org>]

fraser@synopsys.ha.com wrote:
> 
> I nearly cried when dstarner98@aasaa.ofe.org said:
> 
> [ printing enumerations in C example deleted ...]
> 
> The point being, of course, that in Ada I write:
> 
>    Bob'Image (X)
> 
> which still works even if I add an apricot.  Which solution do you prefer?

Mine. For my example printed out "Red apple" as opposed to "RED_APPLE",
and could be quickly internationalized. The only way to internationalize
Bob'Image (X) is to rip it out and replace all examples with something
like the code you cut. I don't think direct outputing of enumerations is
right except as a quick and dirty hack - the name mangling require by C
or Ada (no spaces, no hypens, etc.) combined with the i18n problems make
it inappropriate. 

I never meant this as an attack on Ada. It just that complaining about C
for lack of enumeration strings is as appropriate as complaining about
Ada for lack of a "?:" operator. It's not that big a deal. 
-- 
David Starner - OSU student - dstarner98@aasaa.ofe.org
If you want a real optimist, look up Ray Bradbury. Guy's nuts. 
He actually likes people. -David Brin