[comp.lang.misc] Fortran vs. C vs. comp.lang.misc

jlg@lambda.UUCP (Jim Giles) (01/25/90)

From article <1990Jan24.204929.6185@cs.rochester.edu>, by ken@cs.rochester.edu (Ken Yap):
> PS: Do you guys think you might take your discussion to the right
> group? It's certainly not very miscellaneous now.

Not at all.  The discussion is primarily over certain very important
language design issues which are generally applicable.  Just because
the combattants are using C and Fortran as specific examples shouldn't
be allowed to disguise the fact that the issues are more general.

For example:

   How should aliasing be implemented in a language?
      Fortran doesn't allow it at all (or - not until Fortran 90).
      C forces you into aliasing when it's not wanted (eg. array args).
      The 'perfect' language would make it available but allow higher
      level data structuring tools which allow you to use aliasing
      _only_ when it's appropriate.

J. Giles