Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!wuarchive!decwrl!petunia!polyslo!jdudeck
From: jdudeck@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU (John R. Dudeck)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.misc
Subject: Re: Relationship between C and C++
Message-ID: <2605a117.396e@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU>
Date: 20 Mar 90 03:18:47 GMT
References: <8432@hubcap.clemson.edu> <5200048@m.cs.uiuc.edu>
Reply-To: jdudeck@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU (John R. Dudeck)
Organization: Cal Poly State University -- San Luis Obispo
Lines: 28


In article <5200048@m.cs.uiuc.edu> robison@m.cs.uiuc.edu writes:
>Why is pointer arithmetic denigrated so much?
>
>Can anyone clue me as to the basis for pointer paranoia?

I look at it as relating to the temperament of the programmer.  Different
people just respond better to different approaches.  It is exactly the
same issue as the debate between the Mac and the PC.  Some like a system
that provides you with a Good Way to do whatever you want to do (i.e.
the Mac and Ada) and others like a system that lets you pick your way
of doing it (i.e. the PC and C).  The first way gets the job done and
doesn't let you make mistakes.  The second way gives you a lot more
flexibility, but you have to learn more and maybe work a little harder
to get it right.

There are many different ways to map a problem onto a computer-based
solution.  Different programming backgrounds lead a programmer to 
find his solution in a different way.

I really think that those who are opposed to C, pointers, and all that
goes with it, are more motivated by a desire to have programming done
by grunt laborers in a DP shop environment, and have better productivity
than has been had in the past with Cobol and Basic.  Those who like
C are more of the craftsman type that like to produce finely wrought
masterpieces.

Of course this is just my point of view...

-- 
John Dudeck                           "You want to read the code closely..." 
jdudeck@Polyslo.CalPoly.Edu             -- C. Staley, in OS course, teaching 
ESL: 62013975 Tel: 805-545-9549          Tanenbaum's MINIX operating system.