Re: FAQ and string functions

[Darren New <dnew@san.rr.com>]

Lutz Donnerhacke wrote:
> 
> * Darren New wrote:
> >Tell me how you declare a variable for an array whose bounds you don't know
> >until after you're past the declaration? 

>    type Unbounded_Array is new Ada.Finalization.Controlled with record
>       array_p : array_access := null;

And at which point did you declare a and b to be an array?

>       a, b : Int_Array;

This is declaring a and b to be an access type.


Yes, you can program around the lack of unbounded arrays. The point remains
that a lot of people are used to languages where you don't have to do that.
When they ask why Ada doesn't come with that functionality, the right answer
isn't "you don't really need that." The right answer, at worst, is "take a
look at adahome.com/library/hither/yon for a package that implements
unbounded arrays; that's the right idiom for extending Ada." Saying the new
idiom is the "right" one is only effective when the new idiom really is
trivial, rather than a change in how you think about solving the problem.

And yes, I've already implemented my own unbounded arrays, thanks. :-)
They're not compatible with your unbounded arrays. *That* is the problem. I
can't easily take your library and make it work with my library, because the
fundamental underlying types, even if implemented identically, are not
compatible.

-- 
Darren New 
San Diego, CA, USA (PST). Cryptokeys on demand.
   ** http://images.fbrtech.com/dnew/ **

They looked up at me like I was a T-bone steak
  walking into an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet.