From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-2.9 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00,MAILING_LIST_MULTI autolearn=unavailable autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,577df5d4a0e88785 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2000-12-14 21:02:25 PST Path: supernews.google.com!sn-xit-02!supernews.com!news-x.support.nl!newspeer.clara.net!news.clara.net!oleane.net!oleane!jussieu.fr!enst!enst.fr!not-for-mail From: "Beard, Frank" Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: RE: Bad coding standards Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2000 00:00:53 -0500 Organization: ENST, France Sender: comp.lang.ada-admin@ada.eu.org Message-ID: Reply-To: comp.lang.ada@ada.eu.org NNTP-Posting-Host: marvin.enst.fr Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" X-Trace: avanie.enst.fr 976856530 73190 137.194.161.2 (15 Dec 2000 05:02:10 GMT) X-Complaints-To: usenet@enst.fr NNTP-Posting-Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2000 05:02:10 +0000 (UTC) To: "'comp.lang.ada@ada.eu.org'" Return-Path: X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2448.0) Errors-To: comp.lang.ada-admin@ada.eu.org X-BeenThere: comp.lang.ada@ada.eu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.0beta5 Precedence: bulk List-Id: comp.lang.ada mail<->news gateway Errors-To: comp.lang.ada-admin@ada.eu.org X-BeenThere: comp.lang.ada@ada.eu.org Xref: supernews.google.com comp.lang.ada:3161 Date: 2000-12-15T00:00:53-05:00 -----Original Message----- From: Ken Garlington [mailto:Ken.Garlington@computer.org] > Because (a) that's not what it's intended to do, and (b) there are other > document that *are* intended for that purpose. Since Ada attempts to > discourage the "copy principle," it's not surprising that the ARM does not > choose to be redundant with available style guides ;) Why not? Seeing how the Ada Reference Manual is the "bible" of the Ada language, written by the founders (or "pillars") of the language. Wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that the examples given in the reference manual would be written in a "good" style? And as such, worthy of emulation, something to be followed? You know, a reasonable guide. What's that phrase? Oh yeah, a "style guide". Because I think it's ludicrous to assume those using the language manual, especially new users, wouldn't assume that the "examples" weren't a good style to follow. I know later they could learn about style guides, but if it were another part of the standard, maybe the "Style Guide Annex", then we would have universal approach. Why not? Many in the beginning didn't think we could get this many people, from different countries, to agree, within reason, on a programming language. I'm not sure about the "Since Ada attempts to discourage the "copy principle,"" part. I'm not sure where that comes from. But, it seems to me reuse is the ultimate in the "copy principle" (more like condoned plagiarism), and the main point of the style guides (and by that I mean the style guide says this is what we think is "good", do it this way). >> "it has no impact on the operation or performance of the software, just >> aesthetics." > > I might assume that the word "just" implies that aesthetics are less > important than operation or performance. As the ARM points out, the design > of Ada is predicated in part on the idea that aesthetics are very important. Well, I can see where that could possibly happen. Maybe I should have said "just the aesthetics". If you look at the whole sentence: "Unless your talking about style guide issues that specify using "for loops" as opposed to a "slices", or using "case" statements instead of an "if" statements, then it has no impact on the operation or performance of the software, just aesthetics." The "just" in the sentence meant that outside the part of style guide that deals with structural issues, such as data structures, then your are left with just the aesthetic part. I didn't mean to imply that I didn't think aesthetics were important, just subject to opinion. If you didn't get my point in previous e-mails, I consider it an integral part of readability. Unlike some who think readability and aesthetics form some type of dichotomy, or at least don't see the connection. Frank