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From: Britt <britt.snodgrass@gmail.com>
Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada
Subject: Re: on the need to duplicate code for procedure signature in both
 body and interface files
Date: Sun, 8 Jul 2012 18:48:09 -0700 (PDT)
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Date: 2012-07-08T18:48:09-07:00
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On Jul 7, 7:08=A0pm, "Nasser M. Abbasi" <n...@12000.org> wrote:
> Basic question from an Ada newbie.
>
> One thing that always bothered me in Ada is the need
> to physically duplicate the code that represents the API
> of the package procedures and functions in both the interface
> and the body files (.ads and .adb).
>
> I do not like duplicating code at all. Even if it is only
> for the signature of the API, and even though the Ada
> compiler will catch any difference (assuming one changes
> the .ads and forget to update the .adb for example).
>
> Was there no other alternatives to avoid this situation
> when Ada was originally designed in order to keep the same
> good concept of separating the interface from the body, but
> somehow at the same time, eliminate the need to duplicate by
> hand the API definition code in 2 separate places?
>
> I am using GNAT. I Assume this is the same in other Ada
> implementations.
>
> thanks,
> --Nasser

This topic was recently discussed in the "Ada Programming Language"
LinkedIn group in a thread titled "Imaginary proposal for the next Ada
standard: Ada compilers will automatically generate Package
Specification from Package Body". The discussion started as a poll and
most respondents (including me) strongly dislike the idea.

Edward Colbert just posted a nice summary there.