Re: Benefits of Sub-procedures

[James Rich <james@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 23 Oct 2003, G Armour wrote:

> Could we get a definition of terms that seem to be used extensively in
> this thread?
>
> What is a procedure?  Do we differentiate between procedures that are
> coded in the same source member as the main program that calls it vs.
> those in a service program?

how about using the same definition for procedure as that used for
function in other languages?  I don't have a formal definition for you,
but the code looks something like:

eval returnvalue = procedurecall (parameters)

Notice how much this looks like a BIF (the name is even correct:  built in
function).  To the coder, BIFs and procedures are pretty much the same
thing.

I think it is confusing to distinguish between functions (oops -
procedures) that are contained in the same source member as their
caller(s) and those that aren't.  Regardless of what source member they
are in, they still require a declaration (the PR spec) before they can be
used.

James Rich