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From: Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk>
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c
Subject: Re: encapsulating directory operations
Date: Thu, 29 May 2025 13:38:37 +0100
Organization: Fix this later
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On 29/05/2025 10:37, Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:
> On Thu, 29 May 2025 09:39:51 +0100, Richard Heathfield wrote:
> 
>> On 29/05/2025 08:27, Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:
>>>
>>> On Fri, 23 May 2025 23:13:20 +0100, Richard Heathfield wrote:
>>>
>>>> And who cares about future instability if C90 remains just as stable
>>>> as ever it was?
>>>
>>> Even with the problems with const?
>>>
>>>       char *strstr(const char *haystack, const char *needle);
>>>
>>> Dennis Ritchie pointed out the trouble with that.
>>
>> Is C90 perfect? No, of course not.
> 
> Is there some value in that particular state of imperfection?

Yes.

> Like the
> Amish, whose concept of the ideal level of technology is the one that was
> in effect at the time they were founded? And who have remained stuck at
> that point in time ever since?

No, not even remotely like that.

If I want C++, I know where to find it. If I want Python, I know 
where to find it. If I want Rust, I know where to find it.

You can have new tools without breaking the old ones. We didn't 
have to change BCPL to get B, or B to get C, or C to get D or C++.

This really is a very simple point, but perhaps a simple analogy 
will help to clarify it. You don't throw out your 3/4" just 
because you've bought a 19mm. There is room for both in the 
toolbox, and why write 3/4" on your new spanner? It /isn't/ a 
3/4" spanner even though it's very like it, so why pretend otherwise?

-- 
Richard Heathfield
Email: rjh at cpax dot org dot uk
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29 July 1999
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