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From: franka@mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams)
Newsgroups: net.lang
Subject: Re: null statements
Message-ID: <1672@mmintl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 21-Jul-86 17:30:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: mmintl.1672
Posted: Mon Jul 21 17:30:43 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 24-Jul-86 01:30:22 EDT
References: <800015@ccvaxa> <463@opus.nbires.UUCP> <442@sunybcs.UUCP>
Reply-To: franka@mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams)
Organization: Multimate International, E. Hartford, CT
Lines: 15

>> So to get the effect equivalent to "zero" out of the null statement, do we
>> invent some sort of "positional notation" for statements?!?!

I find the use of the word "invent" somewhat objectionable here.  Perhaps
you have heard of FORTRAN, the oldest high level language of them all?[1]
Perhaps you have heard of the CONTINUE statement therein, which does nothing?

I see nothing wrong with the idea of a an explicit null statement, but let's
not pretend it's a new idea.

Frank Adams                           ihnp4!philabs!pwa-b!mmintl!franka
Multimate International    52 Oakland Ave North    E. Hartford, CT 06108

[1] I believe FORTRAN is somewhat older than either ALGOL or LISP, which are
of the same general vintage.  If I'm wrong, don't bother to correct me.