Re: Let's change semantics of "use type"

[dennison@telepath.com (Ted Dennison)]

"R. Tim Coslet" <R_Tim_Coslet@pacbell.net> wrote in message news:<B9F5F98B.5DE7%R_Tim_Coslet@pacbell.net>...
> The only real use I have ever found in Ada95 for rename is when I need to
> make repeated references to the same array element in several places in a
> block of code. I rename the array element (to tell the compiler to index it
> only once) then use the new name in the places in the code that reference
> it.
> 
> Example:
> 
>     declare
>         Selected_Item : Some_Typ renames Big_Arrayo_of_Data(x,y,z);
>     begin
>         if Selected_Item = Special_Value then
>             y := Complex_Function(Selected_Item,z);
>             ... more code refering to Selected_Item ...
>         end if;
>         Selected_Item := Fancy_Function(x,i);
>     end;

Were it me, I'd replace this entire declare block with a routine. In
fact, were I to come across this in code I was reading, I'd certianly
refactor it as such. The interfaces into and out of a routine are much
narrower and better defined, so they are far better from a maintanence
(and code understanding) standpoint.

In fact, its quite rare that I *ever* use a declare block for anything
other than localizing exception handling.