Re: Ada202X : alternate syntax for ranged scalars

["Peter C. Chapin" <PChapin@vtc.vsc.edu>]

On 04/26/2013 06:10 AM, Martin wrote:

> The default scalar declarations are 'closed ranges', i.e. include both upper and lower in the valid range.
>
> Sometimes we would like to specify a 'half open range', e.g. values of degree from 0.0 up to BUT NOT INCLUDING 360.0.
>
> I'm floating (pun intended) an alternative syntax for specify such ranges (or 'intervals')...
>
> type Degree is digits 15 range [0.0, 360.0); -- includes 0 but not 360

I'm not sure how important this is, but your proposed syntax will cause 
fits for editors that do generic brace matching and/or auto-indentation. 
I understand that an Ada-aware editor could be expected to do the right 
thing, but it's nice when simple algorithms allow things to 'just work.'

That said, Ada already causes simple syntax highlighting editors 
problems with the use of ' for both character constants and as an 
attribute delimiter. That doesn't seem like a good reason to make 
matters worse, however.

Peter