Re: Build language with weak typing, then add scaffolding later to strengthen it?

[jan.de.kruyf@gmail.com]

On Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 5:01:22 PM UTC+2, Simon Clubley wrote:

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangling_else
 

Ah, that stinker. I remember still using some homegrown language about 15 years ago that had it. From a very well known motion control company in the US.

In any case I just had a lovely time reading history. 

http://heerdebeer.org/ALGOL/The_History_of_ALGOL.pdf

Beer has nothing about it, but the dangling else was in the original algol60 and Wirth did not notice when he did algol-W. It still is in his first ebnf.
Sortly therafter it was found and fixed by everybody. I dont seem to be able to trace whodone it. But Algol was very much a laguage being born in those days, And lots of people were involved

He brings the issue up in his Compiler construction book. As an exercise in spotting errors.

j.