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=-1.9 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00 autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,d89b08801f2aacae X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2002-04-30 06:24:30 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news2.google.com!news1.google.com!sn-xit-02!sn-xit-03!supernews.com!194.159.246.34.MISMATCH!kibo.news.demon.net!demon!newsfeed.belnet.be!news.belnet.be!newsfeed.vmunix.org!peernews!peer.cwci.net!news4-gui.server.ntli.net!ntli.net!news6-win.server.ntlworld.com.POSTED!not-for-mail Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: Is strong typing worth the cost? From: dmjones References: <4519e058.0204290722.2189008@posting.google.com> <3CCE8523.6F2E721C@earthlink.net> Organization: Knowledge Software Message-ID: User-Agent: Xnews/L5 Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 13:24:28 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 62.252.22.178 X-Complaints-To: abuse@ntlworld.com X-Trace: news6-win.server.ntlworld.com 1020173068 62.252.22.178 (Tue, 30 Apr 2002 14:24:28 BST) NNTP-Posting-Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 14:24:28 BST Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:23266 Date: 2002-04-30T13:24:28+00:00 List-Id: Marc, >> Thanks for the reference. But I my interest is purely in >> the advantages of strong typing. Language comparison is too >> broad an issue. > > So far the only aspect of strong typing that's been mentioned here is > that of type and constraint checking, i.e., defensive use. The real problem with the discussion so far is that it has only mentioned the benefits. What about the costs? > strengths of strong typing. Don't fight strong typing, USE it! Why? Can you prove to me that the benefits will be greater than the costs? Why am I asking for this evidence? I am working on a detailed analysis of C that includes material on coding guidelines. I have set myself the target of basis these guidelines on empirical evidence. I am a fan of strong typing. However, unless I can find any evidence to the contrary, the most I can say at the moment is "some people think ...". You can find a draft copy of the introduction at the most excellent Research Index: http://citeseer.nj.nec.com/jones02new.html This is a somewhat long introduction, to a somewhat unusual book, but there is lots to talk about. Check out the table of contents of the introduction for relevant page numbers. The book will not be in the stores in time for you to take on holiday with you this summer :-(