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Re^4: Ansi Perl

by Anonymous Monk
on Dec 27, 2004 at 15:16 UTC ( [id://417556]=note: print w/replies, xml ) Need Help??


in reply to Re^3: Ansi Perl
in thread Ansi Perl

That just says the other AM didn't write Oracle. And without knowing why you needed to downgrade your compiler (source not ANSI compliant? Compiler bug? Library issue? ...?), nothing at all can be deduced from that statement.

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Re^5: Ansi Perl
by dragonchild (Archbishop) on Dec 27, 2004 at 15:27 UTC
    Actually, no. The first Anonymonk made the statement that, on its face, is identical to your rephrasing. However, taken in the context of the discussion, the implication is that C programs, due to their ANSI-ness, do not have upgrade issues. This is unlike Perl, as s/he states a little further on.

    So, within the context of the Anonymonk's complete post, the argument being put forward is that every C program ever written will not have any problems should you upgrade the compiler. I put forth a counter-example by saying a piece of software from the second-largest software manufacturer has this exact problem.

    I fully understand that there may be issues unrelated to the ANSI-compliance of the source or the compiler's understanding of that source. As you say, it may be a compiler bug (either as a problem or its existence being depended on). It may also be a library issue, where the library being depended on isn't ANSI-compliant.

    Yet, none of those items were present in the discussion before you brought them up. Which brings me to the problem of generalizations, especially when based primarily on personal experience. You are welcome to engage in them, but be prepared for the counter-example.

    Note: I am using the non-specific you. English doesn't distinguish between the specific you and the non-specific you, for which I apologize in advance for any confusion.

    Being right, does not endow the right to be rude; politeness costs nothing.
    Being unknowing, is not the same as being stupid.
    Expressing a contrary opinion, whether to the individual or the group, is more often a sign of deeper thought than of cantankerous belligerence.
    Do not mistake your goals as the only goals; your opinion as the only opinion; your confidence as correctness. Saying you know better is not the same as explaining you know better.

      Considering the AM also wrote:

      The problem with unportable C code isn't because every coder is following the standard. The problem is coders targetting their compiler, and (ab)using its extensions.

      I don't think (s)he was claiming that no C program would have problems when upgrading the compiler. As I read the article, the AM meant that due to having standards, it is possible to write programs that won't break if the compiler is upgraded (assuming the compiler doesn't have bugs). With Perl, since there is no standard, you can only hope an upgrade won't break your program.

        With Perl, since there is no standard, you can only hope an upgrade won't break your program.

        Example?

        Being right, does not endow the right to be rude; politeness costs nothing.
        Being unknowing, is not the same as being stupid.
        Expressing a contrary opinion, whether to the individual or the group, is more often a sign of deeper thought than of cantankerous belligerence.
        Do not mistake your goals as the only goals; your opinion as the only opinion; your confidence as correctness. Saying you know better is not the same as explaining you know better.

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