Re: "functional" programming in Ada

[Maciej Sobczak <see.my.homepage@gmail.com>]

On Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at 12:34:32 PM UTC+1, Alejandro R. Mosteo wrote:

> I'm writing more code in declarative parts.

It is interesting how language evolution leads to mixing of ideas or even dropping of original values.
If you write code in declarative parts (which also includes calling functions and using complex expressions to initialize variables at the point of declaration), then Ada might as well abandon the whole concept of dividing the code into declarative and imperative parts. If you can implement your whole system in the declarative part, then this division does not make sense any longer.

The argument about tools using these expressions (in contracts, for example) is interesting as well, because tools also benefit from simpler grammar and strict code structure. Apparently there is no single formula for a perfect language!

My (current[*]) own preference is to avoid mixing programming styles in a single language and instead mix languages in a single system. In addition to forcing me to put more thought into the design, it also makes language purists happy. :-) If you find it funny to write in functional style, why not compose your system from parts written in Ada with parts written in [put your *other* favorite language here]? Why abuse a single language to do what it was not originally supposed to do?

[*] Disclaimer: current preferences become obsolete with time. I reserve full rights to change my mind in the next post.

-- 
Maciej Sobczak * http://www.inspirel.com