Value typing and (implicit or explicit) (compile- or run-time) coercion vary across programming languages; Eiffel, for instance, doesn't suffer (if that's the word) as badly as, say, Java, which has made some attempt to inherit primitive numeric type coercion from C. Where this coercion occurs - ie, at the parsing/semantic checking stage or late at evaluation - depends on the language of choice.* I'm sure everyone can find a programming language (whether traditional or scripting) that backs up their viewpoint. Maybe we should pick one and just do what that does. My vote would be for scheme - or possibly intercal. jan * I would add "and how brain-damanged it is" but that's just my opinion :-) -- jan grant, ILRT, University of Bristol. http://www.ilrt.bris.ac.uk/ Tel +44(0)117 9287088 Fax +44 (0)117 9287112 RFC822 jan.grant@bris.ac.uk Boycott Arabic numerals! What have they ever done for us?Received on Monday, 12 August 2002 07:36:11 EDT
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