Re: newbie inquiry

[Jeffrey Carter <jrcarter@acm.org>]

Steven Shaw wrote:
> 
> Are there features
> in the [Ada] spec that could/should be avoided?

There are many features that could be avoided. You can avoid tasking if
your problem doesn't require it. You can avoid exceptions if you're
doing correctness proofs using SPARK. You can avoid certain numeric
types if your problem doesn't require them. I have yet to have a need
for decimal fixed point types. Other people probably have to use them
all the time.

Some people suggest that you should avoid asynchronous transfer of
control. Some people suggest that you should avoid the use clause. Some
people suggest that you should avoid the goto statement. One thing many
people, including me, think should be avoided, but many other people do
frequently, is declare derived types where the parent type is neither a
predefined type nor declared in the same declarative region as the
derived type.

A better rule is that there are features that should be used
judiciously. A feature should not be used if it makes the software hard
to read and understand, and should be used if it makes the software
easier to read and understand. There are certainly circumstances in
which very skilled, experienced, and knowledgeable people advocate using
use clauses and goto statements.

-- 
Jeff Carter
"You empty-headed animal-food-trough wiper."
Monty Python & the Holy Grail