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From: guy@sun.uucp (Guy Harris)
Newsgroups: net.lang.c,net.bugs,net.unix-wizards
Subject: Re: weird C-compiler error message
Message-ID: <4024@sun.uucp>
Date: Tue, 10-Jun-86 02:41:47 EDT
Article-I.D.: sun.4024
Posted: Tue Jun 10 02:41:47 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Jun-86 00:28:37 EDT
References: <1297@burl.UUCP> <1926@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Lines: 17
Xref: linus net.lang.c:8582 net.bugs:740 net.unix-wizards:15286

> Whether the message
> 
> 	"foo.c", line 27: compiler error: bad arg temp
> 
> would be any less confusing is uncertain.

Well, if your users are aware that "compiler error" really means "bring this
message, along with the source code, to your local support person", I think
it is certain that it is less confusing.  Unless a user knows the innards of
the program they're using, they should treat messages of that sort
("compiler error: <blahblahblah>", "panic: <blahblahblah>", etc.) as strings
not to be interpreted, but to be carted to somebody who *does* know the
innards of that program; in that case, there's nothing to be confused about.
-- 
	Guy Harris
	{ihnp4, decvax, seismo, decwrl, ...}!sun!guy
	guy@sun.com (or guy@sun.arpa)