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From: Dave Froble <davef@tsoft-inc.com>
Newsgroups: comp.os.vms
Subject: Re: New VSI post on Youtube
Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2024 23:06:35 -0400
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On 8/22/2024 1:39 PM, Simon Clubley wrote:
> On 2024-08-21, Dave Froble <davef@tsoft-inc.com> wrote:
>> On 8/20/2024 1:34 PM, bill wrote:
>>> 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.
>>>>
>>>
>>> And probably much harder to understand in anything but the most
>>> trivial usage.
>>>
>>
>> Would that not be rather clear with adequate comments about what is being done?
>>
>
> Look at the example Arne posted. Very clean and very easy to understand
> without having to use comments (and I am actually a fan of the liberal
> use of comments. :-) ).
>
> Simon.
>

I find it rather difficult to determine WHY something is being done, just from 
the code.

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef@tsoft-inc.com
DFE Ultralights, Inc.
170 Grimplin Road
Vanderbilt, PA  15486