Re: next "big" language?? (disagree)

[rav@goanna.cs.rmit.EDU.AU (++ robin)]

	ian@rsd.bel.alcatel.be (Ian Ward) writes:

	>On 5/6/95, in reply to Peter Hermann, who said
	>	">When I decide, as a programmer, that a peculiar type or
	>	>variable may have a value in the range from 1 to 9, can you please
	>	>explain me why it should be useful to assign a value of 10 or
	>	>4711 or -1234?"

	>Robin, from Australia raplied.

	>"---Why, someone inevitably decides that the range is going
	>to be something different!  Users are apt to change their minds.
	>Then someone has to go in and modify the program.  Or, someone
	>overlooked a limit, and put in a limit one smaller than that
	>actually required.  Again, someone has to go in and find where
	>that limit is, and change it."

	> Ian, from the UK "raplied" [sic]:

	>I was just thinking that the other day. All the world software
	>engineering problems solved. No more boundaries to any variable,
	>and as I had 31 pounds and 312,032.231234 pence in my bank
	>account I could celebrate this solution to the software
	>crisis with a ride on a brand new -234 cc. Kawasaki Zx6R.

	>Ian Ward's opinions only : ian@rsd.bel.alcatel.be

Reminds me of a joke I once heard:

A man went into a certain pub, hoping to pull a swiftie on
the barman.  He asked: "Oi, have you change of an 18 pound note?"

The barman replied: "Aye.  What would you like? 2 nines or
3 sixes?"

Seems to me that Ian has missed the point.