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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!dartvax!chip
From: chip@dartvax.UUCP (Brig )
Newsgroups: net.lang
Subject: CLU and Calvinism
Message-ID: <472@dartvax.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 3-Dec-83 22:27:47 EST
Article-I.D.: dartvax.472
Posted: Sat Dec  3 22:27:47 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 4-Dec-83 09:16:33 EST
Organization: Dartmouth College
Lines: 12

A recent correspondent claimed that strong-typing was necessary
to prevent buggy programs.  That is, I think, its official aim.

There is a lovely, high-level language in the world called SETL.
It comes from NYU and was Ada's first implementation language.
One of its inventors was asked about CLU, Alphard, and the like.
"They make it hard to write incorrect programs," he said, "but
SETL makes it easy to write correct programs."

So, when defending strong typing to the death, stop and think:
is this the BEST way of writing clear, bugless programs?  Or has
the joy of Calvinism overcome all reason?