Re: New keyword added: continue
Kat,
Regarding GOTO, do not be drawn to the dark side. Are you seduced by it's
power?!!! [insert Vader's heavy breathing here. I almost said Darth, I'm
such a nerd!]
This is another one of those humble programmer issues for me.
Is the concept of structured programming a good thing? Even though sometimes
it means fitting things to a structure rather than what may seem to be a
more direct way of coding?
One of the tenants of structured programming is that a block of code should
have exactly one entrance and one exit (there is some confusion on this point
that I will illustrate in a moment.)
Why? Because it reduces the stress on the programmer. One entrance means,
no guessing about where to start in the code. Once exit means you know
where the code continues. Some may say, "but we're only talking about
once we're inside the block of code!" You can make a case for that, but
it's not a strong case. This also goes for exit [how many levels?] which
is a semi-structured kind of goto.
GOTO is actually two words of course and it's the TO part that is
unstructured and causes the problems. Would you argue for GO (only 2 letters!)
The confusion about one exit is that some programmers interpret this to
mean that a structured block of code must exit the block only at the very
last instruction. This is incorrect. In my code I ofter test for exceptions
right at the beginning of the block and return right there. Sprinkling
returns throughout your code doesn't violate the one exit rule either. Why?
Because no matter how many returns you have you always return to the line
following the original call. That is the one and only exit point.
GOTO could, and does by those italian pasta lovers, get used to violate
the only one exit rule because you can use it so that the code following
the call is not executed.
So I ask again, is structured programming a good thing? It's not a question
that can be given a snap answer. I thought about it for years before
reaching the conclusion that whatever it's faults, the answer is yes in
ALL cases.
Again, it's about humility. Supermen do not make good programmers (I often
find myself cleaning up after them... so I have a strong perspective on
this.) GOTO is powerful. It's the biggest ship in the galaxy. If you
find you can't live without it's power, machine language is the place to
be. It's loaded with goto's.
I hope I've loosened your grip on goto a little without causing offense.
(Yes, Derek I see my tone... If you could only see my heart. Not to imply
that you don't and I'm not picking on anyone and, and, ...)
I am but a simple and humble servant to whatever is true.
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