Re: What evil would happen?

[aek@vib.usr.pu.ru (Alexander Kopilovitch)]

Randy Brukardt wrote:

> > What would happen if a procedure could return a value like a function,
> > or a function could accept an out parameter?
>...
>P.S. Do we have to discuss this AGAIN?

Yes, for sure. Just because "there is enough opposition and no hope of
consensus" is not a technical argument. And it isn't an argument at all
outside of the ARG.

Hyman Rosen wrote:

>That's the price to be paid for continuing
>to allow the mulish and senseless opposition
>to keep its roadblock in place.

I am not sure that this is "mulish and senseless" opposition, but the fact is
that this is the silent opposition. There was outbreak of that discussion in
Ada-Comment (past year, I think), and within that discussion I reviewed all
arguments (against IN OUT parameters in functions), which was stated in 1993-1995,
and which blocked this feature in Ada 95. But no one seemed interested in
technical discussion: all participated ARG members simply stated their position
- pro and contra. (Most interesting was Robert Dewar's position: he firmly
stated that for all technical reasons IN OUT parameters for functions should
be permitted, but nevertheless, he warned that he will vote against this feature,
because this feature certainly will not gain consensus within ARG.)



Alexander Kopilovitch                      aek@vib.usr.pu.ru
Saint-Petersburg
Russia