Re: New VSI post on Youtube

On 2024-08-19, Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> wrote:

On 8/19/2024 2:56 PM, chrisq wrote:

On 8/15/24 13:34, Simon Clubley wrote:

To extend this, I also know the difference between signed and unsigned
variables and I have a default-unsigned approach unless I absolutely
_need_ a signed variable.
>
Unfortunately, a lot of the material out there doesn't seem to understand
that designing a program is about modelling a real-world problem and that
it isn't OK to just use a signed integer to store an unsigned value.

 
  Absolutely, must have come from an assembler background, where the use
of signed branches and arithmetic, can get you into serious trouble.
The standard C library, of course, tends to use signed variables for
everything, a gross error that has never been fixed...

>
At least the C people can define an unsigned variable.
>
Java does not have unsigned data types at all. OK - higher level
language and all that. But still a PITA.
>

Don't get me bloody started on that. :-) Currently doing some Java
development as part of a personal non-work project on Android.

On the plus side, I do like the ease of been able to send messages in
a message queue between threads however and the clean integration of
threads into the language. See:

https://developer.android.com/reference/android/os/Handler

On the negative side, some things can be so bureaucratic in the Android
and Java world. For example, the Android documentation keeps trying to force
you into using Fragments (and the associated Activity) when simple Views
are a lot easier to handle.

At times, Java itself seems to "feel" like it has been designed by theorists
with little real-world experience. All the classes-upon-classes when doing
I/O come to mind here.

And BTW, Java, is it .size() or .length() ??? Pick one and stick with it
when you design your classes. :-(

Simon.

--
Simon Clubley, clubley@remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
Walking destinations on a map are further away than they appear.