Re: Is this the Free-Format that we asked for?

John wrote:
>I don't know about that. So far, nothing has been heard
>from Hans or Barbara. I get the distinct impression that,
>as far as they're concerned, the discussion was over before
>it ever began.

On the as400network feedback forum, the point was raised in
one thread and I offered our reasons for the design.  I don't
like having to repeat the exact same words over and over again.

Language design debates can be fascinating, and on occasion
have even lead to fist fights.  (Although I've only heard
verbal anecdotes, not written, regarding one particularly
famous meeting during the 1960's!)  I've always been amazed
that the ferocity of a debate is often inversely proportional
to the importance of the topic.

Quite simply, if the presence of semi-colons and the lack of
GOTO in the syntax is the biggest point of debate, then I
think we've got a damn good design here.

I will offer one point I don't think I've made before:  The
free-form calc spec was intended for NEW programs or modules.
I wouldn't recommend adding free-form code into existing
programs unless you're adding large blocks of new code.

Have a nice day!

Hans Boldt, ILE RPG Development, IBM Toronto Lab, boldt@ca.ibm.com

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