Re: Garbage collection (was a spinoff of a spinoff of a GA diatribe)

[jsa@alexandria (Jon S Anthony)]

In article <dewar.845558888@merv> dewar@merv.cs.nyu.edu (Robert Dewar) writes:

> Jon says
> 
> "This just isn't accurate.  Sure, you can go a reasonable way with
> this.  But finalization stuff just doesn't catch many typical cases
> and it is _way_ expensive.  Also, you have to put in all the effort
> for something which would be directly useable.
> "
> 
> First, it is not finalization but adjust that is the critical function.
> But in any case the above claim is technically incomprehensible, please
> elucidate.

I meant "finalization stuff" as in Ada.Finalization stuff.  But
actually, finalization in many cases is much more critical (especially
when you are using limited types where there isn't any adjust
anyway!!!)  So, I guess I would disagree with you anyway.

Second, none of this stuff covers all the cases.  It just plain
doesn't.  And, even if it were to work for the particulars of a
specific application, you still have to go and roll your own stuff and
make sure it is all correct and whatnot.  None of this is particularly
incomprehensible.

/Jon



-- 
Jon Anthony
Organon Motives, Inc.
Belmont, MA 02178
617.484.3383
jsa@organon.com