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From: "Randy Brukardt" <randy@rrsoftware.com>
Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada
Subject: Re: Interesting effects in array renaming
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 21:54:18 -0500
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Date: 2003-06-25T21:54:18-05:00
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Dmitry A. Kazakov wrote in message ...
>Here we are. Now, convince me that it is GOOD.


I doubt anyone could do that, for the simple reason that you're right.
But there are a number of things about Ada that are wrong (the inability
to use "in out" parameters on functions is the most obvious to me), but
they're not going to be changed because of compatibility and/or
political reasons. That's the nature of the beast -- you'll never get
everything you want (or even close to it) -- and in total that might be
a good thing.

In the case of the renames, that would substantially change the
semantics of existing programs, both for renames themselves and for
generic in out parameters (which are defined in terms of renames). It
would be too much of a change - a lot of existing code would fail.

I find cases where the political process prevents needed fixes (like the
'in out' parameters on functions issue) much more annoying. At least in
the cases of compatibility, you can convince yourself that there really
is no choice...

                 Randy.