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From: TENAGLIA@mis.mcw.edu (Chris Tenaglia - 257-8765)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.icon
Subject: Re: Uses of dynamic typing
Message-ID: <2D4AF1A400600126@mis.mcw.edu>
Date: 18 Nov 90 12:13:00 GMT
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Regarding:	Uses of dynamic typing

> ... text ...
> My question is: how important is this flexibility for Icon programming, and
> how do people utilize it?
>
> ... text ...
>
> Examples, anyone--particularly from programs that do something rather than
> just prove something?
>
> Paul Abrahams
> abrahams%wayne-mts@um.cc.umich.edu

Some things are implicitly utilized. Dynamic typing, in my opinion, causes
some things.

1. Reduces lines of code, since many variable type declarations become
   un-necessary.
2. Reduces code clutter from having to cast this type to that in expressions.
   Although I still find it necessary for floating point calculations.
3. I suppose I'm just a lazy programmer, and when programming in Icon, I'm
   not fighting the datatypes. I just code away, much like I did when BASIC
   was my native computer language.
4. No need for separate sets of procedure libraries. Well, I suppose if well
   designed, C & Pascal can have smart procedures that adapt to the type of
   data passed.

Chris Tenaglia (System Manager) | Medical College of Wisconsin
8701 W. Watertown Plank Rd.     | Milwaukee, WI 53226
(414)257-8765                   | tenaglia@mis.mcw.edu, mcwmis!tenaglia