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From: "Nick Roberts" <Nick.Roberts@dial.pipex.com>
Subject: GNAT Error Reporting
Date: 1999/02/18
Message-ID: <7ahkn2$kab$2@plug.news.pipex.net>#1/1
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Date: 1999-02-18T00:00:00+00:00
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Well, I can vouch for the sophistication of GNAT's (3.11) error reporting,
anyway. I have only been trying it out for a short time, but it evidently
does indeed produce clear, simple messages, and suggests (usually perfectly
accurately) how to fix the error. Great! I give credit where it is due :-)

For my own compiler, I shall try to provide similarly useful messages and
suggestions. In addition, I fancy trying to put in the following features:

(a) a utility to facilitate the tailoring of the text of error messages (to
different languages, different target audiences, etc.);

(b) an interactive facility which progressively suggests 'fixes' to a
problem (most likely first);

(c) the ability for the user to choose a suggested fix, and have that fix
applied to the source text automatically;

(d) maybe a way of graphically relating error parameters to the source text
(something like little red boxes and arrows).

These are just ideas. There seem (to me) to be a lot of possibilities. Is
there any literature specifically on this subject available?

-------------------------------------
Nick Roberts

'The time has come,' the Walrus said,
  'To talk of many things:
Of shoes--of ships--and sealing wax--
  Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
  And whether pigs have wings.'
                        Lewis Carroll
          "Through the Looking Glass"
-------------------------------------