Re: Problem using Ada.Text_IO.Modular_IO

[micronian2@gmail.com]

On Jul 14, 10:26 am, Georg Bauhaus <rm.dash-bauh...@futureapps.de>
wrote:
> microni...@gmail.com schrieb:
>
> > In the context of using types such as Unsigned_N from Interfaces, what
> > if you needed the bit shifting operations?
>
> What if...  Do you have some convincing examples?

Good point. After reading this, I realized that I usually needed these
type of operations to manipulate packed data when I wrote in a
language such as C. With Ada I normally can use rep specs and have the
compiler generate the necessary bit shifting operations automatically.
In addition, with Ada2005 now requiring support for non-default
Bit_Order settings, rep specs are even more portable :). Now if only
more Ada compilers were supporting Ada2005. GNAT "seems" like the only
one that is continuing to make progress these days :(.

>
> A special algorithm is probably not a convincing example,
> even when admirable, or worth millions, because special
> algorithms typically require special programming efforts.
> For features to be of the "general purpose" flavor though,
> i.e. for them to be provided by the language, there should
> be a general need, not a nice, special one.

Well, there must have been enough compelling reason/need to include
the operations for Unsigned_N types in the first place.

--Micronian Coder

>
> --
> Georg Bauhaus
> Y A Time Drain  http://www.9toX.de