Re: Standards interpretation: interface and intent?

From: Gary L. Scott (garyscott_at_ev1.net)
Date: 07/28/04 

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2004 20:17:30 -0500

Dr Chaos wrote:
>
> On Tue, 27 Jul 2004 06:44:51 -0500, Gary L. Scott <garyscott@ev1.net> wrote:
> > Jan Vorbrüggen wrote:
> >>
> >> > This is one thing about the terminology that confuses me a little. If
> >> > it is "assumed", then there should be no additional information passed
> >> > since the shape or size is "assumed"???
> >>
> >> Well, you're the native speaker here (I assume), but I've always taken it
> >> to mean "assumed from information supplied by the callee".
> >
> > Usually though if something is passed, that makes it explicit. The
> > application programmer didn't provide it, but the compiler did. Doesn't
> > make it any less explicit.

It's explicit to the compiler. That's what matters. If the compiler
has the exact dimensions or shape, then it is "explicitly known" what
the dimensions or shape is. If not, then it may have to make
assumptions (which may be wrong). But I understand the usage. I was
just feeling argumentative again.

>
> yes it does, because most humans don't know exactly what any given compiler
> is doing, and neither should they.
>
> Since humans read the words defining the meaning of a programming language,
> the terminology ought to be in words meaningful to them.
>
> I believe that something "explicit" ought to mean "something that the human
> intentionally supplies by writing software statements saying so".
>
> like "explicit typing"
>
> integer :: i
> real :: a
>
> i = 42
> a = 3.14159
>
> "implicit typing"
>
> !
> ! with
> ! implicit real (a-h,o-z)
> ! implicit integer (i-n)
> ! in effect
> !
> i = 42
> a = 3.14159 

-- 
Gary Scott
mailto:garyscott@ev1.net
Fortran Library:  http://www.fortranlib.com
Support the Original G95 Project:  http://www.g95.org
-OR-
Support the GNU GFortran Project:  http://gcc.gnu.org/fortran/index.html
Why are there two?  God only knows.
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep, voting on what to eat for dinner...
Liberty is a well armed sheep contesting the vote. - Thomas Jefferson

Relevant Pages