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From: =?UTF-8?Q?Arne_Vajh=C3=B8j?= <arne@vajhoej.dk>
Newsgroups: comp.os.vms
Subject: Re: New VSI post on Youtube
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2024 09:47:36 -0400
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On 8/20/2024 8:36 AM, Simon Clubley wrote:
> On 2024-08-20, chrisq <devzero@nospam.com> wrote:
>> I guess another complication is that some functions return
>> -1, which implies a signed variable. To fix all that would require a
>> complete rewrite of the library and probably most of the os and
>> applications as well, so it will never happen. Just have to write
>> unsigned equivalents, or slip functions with casts, but it's a lot
>> of additional work.
> 
> One thing I wish was available in all languages is the ability to return
> multiple values from a function call so you can return both a status and
> the value(s) in one assignment. Ie: "a, b, c = demo_function(param1, param2);".
> 
> In languages with dynamic associative arrays (such as PHP), I simulate
> this by returning an associative array from a function call with both
> status and value fields. Makes coding _so_ much cleaner and robust.

Few languages support multiple return values.

And a few other languages support tuples with named fields
or anonymous classes with named properties, which is almost as good.

And almost all newer high level languages support 
map/dictionary/associative array.

Arne