Re: Separate Compilation in Programming Languages

[Niklas Holsti <niklas.holsti@tidorum.invalid>]

adaworks@sbcglobal.net wrote:
> Recently, I have been engaged in some conversations with colleagues
> about the value of separate compilation. ...
> What is your view of Ada-style separate compilation when compared to
> that in other languages?

The Ada way, and especially the source-based library system as used 
in GNAT and relatives, is the best form of separate (modular) 
compilation that I've ever used. My experience includes various 
implementations of Algol, Pascal, Fortran, Cobol, C, and C++, but 
not very much Java.

> Do you find it useful in your own practice?

I find it hard to imagine programming *without* separate 
compilation of modules, except with special super-fast (poorly 
optimizing) compilers of the "Turbo" variety.

> Do you still use the "is separate" feature in a package body?

I never use it. My subprograms are rarely long enough to make it 
useful (given that there is no compilation-speed advantage under 
GNAT), and I seldom use nested packages.

Separate version tracking per subprogram (as mentioned by Dirk 
Heinrichs) could be an advantage, but I would prefer to get this 
from a subprogram-aware version control system, without the 
proliferation of source files that "separate" causes.

-- 
Niklas Holsti
Tidorum Ltd
niklas holsti tidorum fi
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