RE: Prototyping printf()

On Mon, 25 Sep 2000, Richard Jackson wrote:

> Joel:
> 
> The issue is more like "strong vs weak typing".  RPG is strongly typed.  C
> is weakly typed.  C++ is strongly typed ... is there a way to perform printf
> in C++ that is analogous to what Simon wants to do in RPG?

This was true once upon a time, RPG III was strongly typed.  I don't think
RPG IV is any more strongly typed than C, however.   

Pointers in C can be declared as pointers to char, int, struct, etc.  RPG 
does not allow this, which means that the C compiler can find more
mismatches than the RPG compiler can.   

In parameters, RPG is just as weakly typed as C.   Sure prototypes use
definite types, but you can work around them by just passing a pointer,
since pointers are so weakly typed.   Additionally, the CALL and CALLB
op-codes aren't type-checked at all!  

So, I really wouldn't call RPG IV "strongly typed"!  :)

The problem as I see it, is that RPG's prototypes have nothing that works
the same was as the elipses (...) in C.   (Well, I guess "CALLB" is 
close, but is ugly, and not as powerful as prototyped calls.)


Of course, this whole thread has left me wondering "why on earth does he
need to use printf in RPG?" :)



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