Re: Refactoring and Ada

[dewar@gnat.com (Robert Dewar)]

"Randy Brukardt" <randy@rrsoftware.com> wrote in message news:<u7ddjt7jko763b@corp.supernews.com>...
> I agree with this. 'Valid is (almost) useless combined 
> with UC, but that is true whether or not UC is erroneous
> in most cases (other than [very] sparse enums and float 
> values) it is trivial to check before
> applying UC. 

Yes, of course you mention the two cases in which UC/'Valid
is most useful (sparse enums, and floats). And I will
say it again, I recommend you choose a compiler that properly supports
this in the obviuosly intended manner.

Remember that if you insist on writing only code that is
absolutely 100% guaranteed to run on all compilers according to a
strict reading of the RM, you can't write
anything at all (consider for example

RM 1.1.3(3) which allows arbitrary programs to be rejected
on the grounds that they are too large.

RM 1.1.3(6) which allows compilers to reject anything that
in the sole opinion of the implementor is deemed 
"impractical" to implement (certainly $ cost is a possible
reason for example of something being impractical, since
there is no attempt to give the word any meaning other than
its ordinary meaning in english).

So it is always the case that you have to choose a compiler
that takes a reasonable pragmatic approach to everything,
where YOU define what reasonable means!

I know well this argument about UC and 'Valid, I consider
it specious :-)