From: Marnen Laibow-Koser <marnen@...>
Date: 2009-12-23T02:38:53+09:00
Subject: Re: Symbols vs. constants?

James Edward Gray II wrote:
> On Dec 22, 2009, at 9:02 AM, Marnen Laibow-Koser wrote:
> 
>> * Perl warnings are actually useful.
> I agree that Perl's warnings system is superior.  I wish we had the 
> ability to disable specific warnings, as they do.
> 
>> * Perl programmers don't tend to test systematically.
> 
> Tests are one tool to help you prevent bugs.  There are others, like 
> warnings.
> 
> A car has more than one feature that helps keep passengers alive in a 
> crash and that's a good thing.  There's nothing wrong with using every 
> tool at your disposal.

Right -- if the tool is useful.  But I think you're trying to tell me 
that the squealing noise that my car makes at speeds over 35 mph is a 
safety feature, because it prevents me from driving too fast. :D
> 
>>> The most important aspect to me is libraries though.  If you write a 
>>> library that throws warnings, I think we should be able to take your 
>>> keyboard away.  It's the whole second-hand smoke thing.  You didn't just 
>>> make a bad choice for you but for me too.
>> 
>> To me, it looks a little unprofessional, but I'm not going to avoid a 
>> decent library just because it throws warnings.
> 
> Boy, I sure will, if I have a choice.
> 
>>> It's also worth noting that it is possible to change a constant without 
>>> a warning.  In fact, it's possible to do all of Ruby's dynamic magic 
>>> without warnings, so you certainly can avoid them if you desire.
>> 
>> True.  But why bother?  A warning is not ipso facto a problem.
> 
> Now I can tell that you didn't really read my message.  I gave my 
> reasons.
>

I did read your message.  Your reasons just seem a little flimsy to me.

> You have your techniques for building robust software, I have mine, and 
> other programmers have theirs.  There's nothing wrong with that of 
> course.

Of course.

> 
> If code throws warnings, it reduces some of my options.  I would rather 
> avoid that when possible.

So would I, when possible.  I just don't think it's worth a lot of extra 
effort.

> 
> James Edward Gray II

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