Re: Why is it Called a Package?

[Nick Roberts <nickroberts@callnetuk.com>]

Gary Scott wrote:
> 
> Admittedly a "fluff" question...
> 
> I notice that a lot of modern languages choose names/syntax that I
> personally do not find intuitive.  Other languages contain basically the
> same feature but call it by different names (module, etc.).  Why was
> "package" considered the intuitive name for this feature?

One answer might be: because a word had to be chosen. Now (if you really
want to ruffle some feathers ;-) ask why 'all' was chosen as the word to
signify dereferencing (hardly intuitive), why 'others' was chosen as the
the word to signify a default value for choices (not very intuitive
when, as is quite commonly done, it is the only choice), or why, for
that matter, any language uses the words and/or terms 'loop' and
'iteration', when the words 'repeat' and 'repetition' would be easier
and more obvious (and 'do' must be the least intuitive of all).

Of course, for all those poor souls whose native language is not
English, but who must program (Ada and other languages) in English,
perhaps you'd better not ask about words being 'intuitive' after all.
Imagine it! Ouch. They have my sympathy.

-- 
Nick Roberts
http://www.adapower.com/lab/adaos