Java needs "goto" (was Re: hi)

On Wed, 31 Jan 2007 04:55:35 -0800, Lew <lew@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Lab.Bhattacharjee@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
[sNip]
while (true) {

To depend on exceptions as flow control is a bad practice.
[sNip]

This typically occurs because the reserved word "goto" isn't implemented. There are situations where "goto" would be very useful, such as:

0. An alternative to "break label" since label is currently limited in where it can be located (such code could be easier to read)

1. The ability to share code between methods within a class, which all end with the same functionality (this could be more efficient than calling another method; javac would need to generate errors such as attempts to access variables that belong to different methods, return type mismatches, etc.)

I do agree with your view that infinite loops that depend on exceptions are a bad practice. Using conditionals to trigger a "break" would also be better handled by making that the focus of the loop -- and if they need to compare afterwards, then "do { ... } while (condition);" can certainly solve that problem.

--
Randolf Richardson - kingpin+nntp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The Lumber Cartel, local 42 (Canadian branch)
http://www.lumbercartel.ca/
.

Relevant Pages

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