On Sun, 11 Mar 2001, Paul Prescod wrote: > Let's discuss my proposal in the types-sig. Executive summary: > > * incremental development policy > * syntax for parameter type declarations > * syntax for return type declarations > * optional runtime type checking > * goals are better runtime error reporting and method documentation I could be way over my head here, but I'll try to give you my ideas. I've read the past proposals for type declarations and their syntax, and I've also read a good bit of the types-sig archive. I feel that there is not as much benefit to extending type declarations into the language as their is to interfaces. I feel this way because I'm not sure what benefit this has over an object that describes the types you are expecting and is associated with your object (like an interface). The upshot of having an interface describe your expected parameter and return types is that the type checking can be made as compile/run-time, optional/madatory as you want without changing the language or your implementation at all. "Strong" checking could be done during testing, and no checking at all during production, and any level in between. A disadvantage of an interface is that it is a seperate, additional step over just writing code (as are any type assertions in the language, but those are "easier" inline with the implementation). But this disadvantage is also an upshot when you immagine that the interface could be developed later, and bolted onto the implementation later without changing the implementation. Also, type checking in general is good, but what about preconditions (this parameter must be an int > 5 < 10) and postconditions and other conditions one does now with assertions. Would these be more language extensions in your propsal? As I see it, interfaces satify your first point, remove the need for your second and third point, satify your fourth point, and meet the goals of your fifth. Nice to meet you at the conference, -Michel
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