OpenEuphoria

Re: Include system

• Posted by Chris Bensler <bensler at nt.net> Dec 14, 2006
• 1107 views

Mario Steele wrote:
> 
> Hello Chris and Rob,
> 
> I just wanted to inject a few comments on some of what is being discussed, and
> offer a second opinion on something to enhance this include process.
> 
> Taking something from Ruby, which I find quite useful in situations like this.
>  Ruby has a global variable that can be modified at run time called $:,
> it's an Array (Sequence in Euphoria), which holds a list of Search paths, in
> which to find libraries, and ruby irritates through them, to try and find
> files.
>  If this was possible to implement in Euphoria, it may solve a lot of problems
> dealing with polluting the system environment table, along with making things
> modifiable through execution of things to be included, at least within the
> Euphoria
> code.
> 
> This to would enhance the ability to avoid problems as what has been having.
> 
> Just an idea.
> 
> Mario Steele
> <a
> href="http://enchantedblade.trilake.net">http://enchantedblade.trilake.net</a>
> Attaining World Domination, one byte at a time...

I could see it being problematic. Same sort of maintenance issue as goto.
I personally don't like to base my language design decisions on protecting
programmers from bad programmers though, however I don't see any real benefit.
The only advantage I can see is the ability to designate arbitrary paths external
to the project and the eu environment. Both of which I don't beleive is good
programming practice.

Can you give me a practical example of how you would use $: ?

You did remind me of a similar idea I have had though, which is to provide
command line options to be able to specify the eu environment for any specific
instance of the interpetter. Addionally, a config file option could be provided
to be able to script the Eu environment setup.
This would basically provide the same ability as $:, but a person could rely on
the configurations they see being governing, instead of having to inspect the
entire source code to be sure of what is happening.

Would that be satisfactory?


Chris Bensler
~ The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra ~
http://empire.iwireweb.com - Empire for Euphoria