[Oberon] Procedure variables and local procedures

[Skulski, Wojciech]

Joerg:

>Btw. another issue I see with Oberon-07 ist the removal of dynamic
> arrays. I cannot imagine how to write for example a string library or
> something like that without.

I do not know the string libs mentioned by Chris, but I used mathematical libs by Robert Campbell. I also wrote waveform data acquisition and corresponding graphics. All of these highly useful programs are based on something like the following, copied from my own code.

  RArray* = POINTER TO ARRAY OF REAL;
  IArray* = POINTER TO ARRAY OF INTEGER;

> Would you please explain „dynamic arrays“? Do you miss the low level SYSTEM.NEW(p, n)?

I am guessing that Chris has the above in mind. I second his opinion: without the dynamic arrays (or "open arrays") the language is crippled.

> The modules handling dynamic structures (eg. text editor, network stack or files) 
> do in principle use the same internal scheme: they use chains of blocks of fixed size.

Perhaps it works OK if one is developing a text editor. I still remember Turbo Editor Toolbox was using a similar approach.

Writing an algebra library using this method takes us back to FORTRAN. Here I second Chris. I too cannot imagine working in this area without dynamic arrays.

Perhaps you guys could have a look at monumental work done by Robert? This might provide some arguments against cutting off what you consider dead wood, which is in fact crucial for some applications.


Thanks,
Wojtek