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From: davidr@hplsla.HP.COM (   David M. Reed)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Turbo C/Pascal, debugging
Message-ID: <5280012@hplsla.HP.COM>
Date: Tue, 7-Jul-87 20:23:41 EDT
Article-I.D.: hplsla.5280012
Posted: Tue Jul  7 20:23:41 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 10-Jul-87 07:27:12 EDT
References: <719@imsvax.UUCP>
Organization: HP Lake Stevens, WA
Lines: 30


Ted, I think your last  comment is one of the main reasons I have been slow to
pick up  seriously  on C, the lack of  checking  at compile  time for  syntax,
parameters,  assignments, and other things that can so easily happen.  And one
of the reasons I particularly  like Pascal, because of its basic simplicity of
language with strong type checking, yet providing a way to organize my program
(via  functions  and  procedures).  I  realize  some of the  flexibility  (and
ultimately the power) that comes with such a "loose" language as C, but I trip
over myself so frequently  with Pascal (even  exerting great caution and care)
that I almost fear  working  with some of my big  programs in C.  (And so many
errors  are  just  simple  typos or  brain/finger  speed  coordination.)  I am
grateful for very fast  compilers  like Borland puts out, for my debug time is
GREATLY  reduced.  And I also  find  that at least  90% of the  time  the best
debugger is judiciously placed WRITELN/printf  statements (fast and effective,
especially with fast compilers like Borland's).

I am also grateful for the useful Pascal extensions that have been provided by
Borland,  whether  I need a  convenient  way to  access  the  system  or  just
manipulate strings.  The majority of my programs deal particularly with string
handling  functions, as opposed to numbers, and Microsoft Pascal, for one, is,
in my opinion,  Extremely Poor in this area (together with its very High Price
for a Very Slow  compiler)  eliminated it in the choice of a Pascal  compiler.
So far as C is  concerned,  I look  forward  to getting  my copy of Turbo C (I
currently use Lattice C when I do C, as I did not care for Microsoft C).

Now  don't get me  wrong.  I am not  against  MicroSoft.  Just  because I also
chose  DESQview  over MS Windows  (because I found it easier to learn and use,
and  more  productive  because  I can run LAN  and  modem  communications  and
compiles and other active  programs in the background so easily when used with
my AST RAMpage card).  And I chose another editor over MS Word, and....