Subject:
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Re: FW: Something else is needed, I think...
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Thu, 6 May 1999 12:34:30 GMT
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Original-From:
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stephen p spackman <[stephen@]Spamcake[acm.org]>
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Viewed:
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3333 times
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John A. Tamplin wrote:
>
> On Wed, 5 May 1999, stephen p spackman wrote:
>
> > But suppose for instance that we were talking about a language like Java
> > that has static typing. Why not put support for fixed point into the
> > compiler. It would then have ZERO impact on the runtime, not even new
> > library routines, and still let you do the calculations you want in the
> > notation you want - with a simpler semantics to boot.
>
> For Java specificallly, it can't be in the compiler since it would no
> longer be Java. However, you could easily have a FixedPoint class which
> implements Number and use that. Since Java doesn't support operator methods
> you have clunky syntax like a=b.multiply(c) etc, but it works.
Those who think Java is a good idea are already discussing using
variants.
> > Anyway, sorry if I was sounding exasperated; I'm persistently bewildered
> > by the extent to which computer people (informaticians) like their tools
> > and seek to perpetuate what seem - from my specialised background! -
> > very clear mistakes.
>
> I'm not sure exactly what you are referring to. Floating point and fixed
> point each have their proper place. Personally, what I want is an
> environment flexible enough to accomodate what each person wants and
> modular enough to do it without negatively impacting people who don't
> want it.
Um, C family languages were obsolete before their introduction. Von
Neumann thought that floating point was a bad idea, he was right then
and he's right now. If you're really interested in flexibility and
modularity, what possible attraction can a C-family language have? Even
with local classes Java is still not providing proper support for basuic
abstraction.
That sort of thing.
I'm a space alien.
stephen
--
Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: FW: Something else is needed, I think...
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| (...) For Java specificallly, it can't be in the compiler since it would no longer be Java. However, you could easily have a FixedPoint class which implements Number and use that. Since Java doesn't support operator methods you have clunky syntax (...) (27 years ago, 5-May-99, to lugnet.robotics)
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