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Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watnot!watmath!clyde!rutgers!dayton!viper!john
From: john@viper.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c
Subject: Re: C & fp (really parens)
Message-ID: <814@viper.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 11-Apr-87 00:31:33 EST
Article-I.D.: viper.814
Posted: Sat Apr 11 00:31:33 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 12-Apr-87 00:48:10 EST
References: <6800@brl-adm.ARPA> <5739@brl-smoke.ARPA>
Reply-To: john@viper.UUCP (John Stanley)
Organization: DynaSoft Systems
Lines: 45

In article <5739@brl-smoke.ARPA> 
gwyn@brl.arpa (Doug Gwyn (VLD/VMB) <gwyn>) writes:
 >
 >>Given that a means for forcing the compiler to respect parentheses is needed,
 >>couldn't something less syntactically "tacky" than the unary + have been found?
 >>I don't think it's intuitive or obvious.
 >
 >Many people would agree that it's a bit kludgy, but since the facility
 >was added anyway for other (not necessarily terrific) reasons and has the
 >desired effect, there is no need to invent anything more for this.

  As far as I'm concerned saying the unary '+' is "a bit tacky" is like
saying "an icecube has a small chance of surviving a pass thru the sun".

  The unary + is A BAD IDEA!!  I have no objection to the objective, but
the method is very much in question.  I've repeatedly given detailed
explanations of WHY it's a bad idea, as well as several simple options
which would allow reorganization when necessary but give the programmer
the final say... Isn't that what a language is suppost to do in the first
place??!  how about giving me one (or maybe two if you can) ideas as to 
why it's a better idea than simply obeying the parens that the 
programmer put there in the first place???

  I would be very interested in hearing what the process would be for
me to make an official proposal to the committee.  I'm tired of taking
so much time talking to people who agree with me but have little or no
say in the matter.  I want to make sure the unary plus never gets into
the final version of the standard.  It will cause more problems than
it's worth and makes a major point of the language into a total kludge.

  Doug, what do I have to do to have some REAL input into this process?

  I will also welcome mail from any and all people who have an opinion
(pro or con) on this matter.  Don't get too carried away, but tell me
if you like the unary plus or if you think something else would be a
better way and if so, what that -other- way might be.  I'll collect
a tally and post it in a week or two.

  SPEAK UP AND BE COUNTED...


--- 
John Stanley (john@viper.UUCP)
Software Consultant - DynaSoft Systems
UUCP: ...{amdahl,ihnp4,rutgers}!{meccts,dayton}!viper!john