Re: If you could change the C or C++ or Java syntax, what would you like different?

From:
Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org>
Newsgroups:
comp.lang.c,comp.lang.c++,comp.lang.java.programmer
Date:
Mon, 11 Oct 2010 08:25:36 +0100
Message-ID:
<V_-dnTL4Frx2Ji_RnZ2dnUVZ_gqdnZ2d@earthlink.com>
Mike Schilling wrote:

Please share your oppinion on anything you do not like in the C or C++
or Java syntax (they're quite similar).

In order to maintain the integrity of the discussion (have
everything at
the same place) please respond on comp.lang.c.

Ahh. <grabs popcorn> <lies back>

Lisp macros and first-class lambdas. In all three languages.


A construct that allows explicit transfer of control to another
statement in order to create control structures more complex than
if-then-else or while-do. Call it "past", e.g.

   try
   {
       a:
       process();
   }
   catch (Exception ex)
   {
       log(ex);
       reinit();
       past a; // i.e. transfer control to the statement just past
the label a
   }

A method which uses this construct can be called "past a" code.


Hmmm. This seems to carry a risk of coming close to arbitrary goto, and
hiding a loop.

I would code it with an explicit loop as:

boolean done = false;
while(!done)
{
   try
   {
     process();
     done = true;
   }
   catch (Exception ex)
   {
     log(ex);
     reinit();
   }
}

In practice, I would also put a limit on the number of retries, and take
more drastic action if it is exceeded.

Anyone have a smoother idiom for this one?

Patricia

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