From: Nathan Smith <nsmith5@...>
Date: 2006-08-16T07:09:11+09:00
Subject: Re: goto function?

On Wed, 16 Aug 2006, David Vallner wrote:

> On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 23:05:10 +0200, fabsy <fabbyfabs@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I want the script to start over again.. for example..
> > When the user made an input and pressed return I want the script to
> > "restart" or jump to the beginning..
> >
>
> Let me introduce you to my good friend: structured programming. I'm sure
> you'll get along marvelous once you get to know each other.
>
> The BASIC construct of "goto" is rightfully considered harmful for
> programs above a certain complexity. It's not present in Ruby in any
> direct way that would let you jump around a program's structure
> arbitrarily. (Actually, that's a lie, but I'll hold the continuations for
> the sake of simplicity.)

<snip>

Obligatory response:

In some very rare circumstances, using gotos does in fact have a rightful
place in code. In very long switch/case statements in C code, a _very_
well structured (and properly named) set of labels/gotos can make code
much cleaner, and easier to understand, than if they were not used. But
I'll say again, this is very rare.

Nate