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From: Robert A Duff <bobduff@shell01.TheWorld.com>
Subject: Re: FAQ and string functions
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Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 01:05:45 GMT
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Date: 2002-08-14T01:05:45+00:00
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"Randy Brukardt" <randy@rrsoftware.com> writes:

> I think your missing the Ada philosophy that something expensive should
> look expensive. An unbounded array (as you put it) is going to be
> expensive, and that expensive shouldn't be covered up in glossy syntax.

IMHO, that philosophy is exactly the opposite of what high-level
languages are all about.  The parts of Ada that disobey this philosophy
are the better parts.

Here's an example: In Ada, one can write "A := B;".  If they are
integers, it's fast.  If they are gigantic arrays, it could be a million
times slower, or more.  That's good -- assignment uses a single notation
no matter how fast or slow.  Contrast with C, where copying arrays uses
a different syntax from copying ints.

- Bob