Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!spool.mu.edu!uwm.edu!convex.csd.uwm.edu!jgd From: jgd@convex.csd.uwm.edu (John G Dobnick) Newsgroups: comp.lang.fortran Subject: Re: A Question of Style Message-ID: <12412@uwm.edu> Date: 24 May 91 20:04:22 GMT References: Sender: news@uwm.edu Reply-To: jgd@convex.csd.uwm.edu Lines: 73 Originator: jgd@convex.csd.uwm.edu I originally said: > I have recently run into a FORTRAN compiler that exhibits, to my > mind, an annoying trait. It complains voiciferously about statement > numbers that are defined on statements, but are otherwise unreferenced. > * Is this trait good or bad? Desirable or undesirable? Someone answered: >It's bad. Undesirable. Someone else then said: >I disagree. Any help I get from a compiler to help me catch mistakes >is appreciated and I would have to say that labels that are never >referenced are very likely due to an error ... > And (Craig Burley) responded: > Wrong, unreferenced labels are NOT "very likely due to an error". I'd put > the odds at more like 5% than the implied 90%+. > > Next, the question was whether complaining vociferously about such a perfectly > valid and often-used construct (an unreferenced label) was desirable, and I > said "NO". I stand by that assessment: if you WANT help from a compiler > to catch mistakes, and you think this is a likely mistake, then a compiler > that permits you to ENABLE "unlikely but possible errors" but does not make > it the default, or at least allows you to disable them but still enable > "likely errors" that are still valid Fortran, is desirable. But that was NOT > the original question. This is an accurate reading of my original posting. I just wish to point out that the vendor in question _does_ supply a cross-reference facility. Cross-referencing is sufficient to find "unreferenced statement labels", should the programmer desire to find them. I am still annoyed by the (unnecessary) nattering of the compiler on this subject. Since this still seems to be a "live" topic, I'll hold off on summarizing the responses (I've received a number via e-mail) until things "cool off" a little. -- John G Dobnick (JGD2) Computing Services Division @ University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee INTERNET: jgd@uwm.edu ATTnet: (414) 229-5727 UUCP: uunet!uwm!jgd "Knowing how things work is the basis for appreciation, and is thus a source of civilized delight." -- William Safire kkkkkkkk