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From: Kilgallen@SpamCop.net (Larry Kilgallen)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada
Subject: Re: proposal for new assignment operators
Date: 25 Jun 2003 05:39:59 -0500
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Date: 2003-06-25T05:39:59-05:00
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In article <bebbba07.0306242223.1f86b3f7@posting.google.com>, 18k11tm001@sneakemail.com (Russ) writes:

> As most of you are aware, several very popular programming languages,
> such as C, C++, Java, Perl, and Python, have what are called
> "assignment operators." The most important of these operators are
> "+=", "-=", "*=", and "/=".
> 
> On a recent thread, the usefulness of those operators was discussed in
> detail, so I won't rehash it.

Thanks for that, but don't assume we were all convinced.

> One of the problems with adding these operators to Ada is that "/=" is
> already used for "not equals." So I suggested that the Ada version of
> these operators could be ":+", ":-", ":*", and ":/". I did not get
> much of a reply, but I think it's an idea worth considering, so I am
> repeating it here.

For all I care, such operators could be !@#$^#$%^#$%, I would not
understand them any less.  Please do not assume that we all came
from such a background.  I have used C, but the warning in your
first sentence is quite enough to make me steer clear of Java,
Perl and Python.

> These operators would be consistent with the ":=" assignment operator
> of Ada, and I don't think they conflict with any established Ada
> operator. I actually think they make *more* sense than the usual "+="
> type operators.

I believe the term is "damning with faint praise".