On 18 Nov 2006 07:10:24 -0800, in bit.listserv.ibm-main you wrote: >Clark Morris writes of the HLASM: > >> >>It may be low level, but does it also have to be brain-dead? >> > >Characterizing the HLASM as brain-dead because it does not do strong typing >gives polemical expression to one point view. Other, different views are >possible; they are indeed entertained by experienced people. > >I, for one, loathe strong typing. In my own code I do data-type punning >routinely, and I should not wish to see the HLASM converted into as C-lilke >language that made this gratuitously difficult. > >The whole question whether the HLASM or any assembly language is now a >suitable vehicle for use by novices is, I think, an open one. Let them >write C or Pascal! Devoting any of the very limited resources available for >maintaining and enhancing the HLASM to childproofing it would come far down >on my personal wish list for it.
As someone who has made great use of the COBOL REDEFINES option, I don't think that strong typing would necessarily be an impediment to writing operating system code. I wanted optional flagging because of people with your point of view. Coming from a COBOL background where changes in the data definition are automatically accommodated, I believe that flagging can reduce inadvertent errors. Also making the operation match the data definition can reduce confusion for the person who inherits the assembler code. > >John Gilmore >Ashland, MA 01721-1817 >USA > >_________________________________________________________________ >Talk now to your Hotmail contacts with Windows Live Messenger. >http://clk.atdmt.com/MSN/go/msnnkwme0020000001msn/direct/01/?href=http://get.live.com/messenger/overview > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, >send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO >Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
