[fpc-devel] "case" with range stupidities

[Daniël Mantione]

Op Thu, 15 Feb 2007, schreef Vinzent Hoefler:

> So if the case label is considered a set why can't I use a set constant 
> (see the commented lines above) 

Because a normal set is limited by brackets:

const a = [1,2,5];
      b = [a,7,8,9];  {This is not allowed.}
      b = [a]+[7,8,9]; {But this is.}

Because, in a case statement you are already "inside" the brackets:

case x of
  1,2,5: {No brackets.}

... you have a syntax problem for allowing set constants (what does 
"[1,2,4],9" mean?). If you would design a syntax for it, you could allow 
set constants.


> and if I do the range thing, which 
> compiles, it does not consider the value of the constant but rather the 
> range of its /type/...?

No, low(x) is a constant.

> Seems to me that case labels are very special things, at least.
> 
> Another oddity would be a for loop:
> 
>    for Bla := One to Five do ...
> 
> would be a range only, yes? (Apart from the fact that - due to the "to" 
> keyword - really isn't).

It is a range, but one also needs to specify the direction (to/downto), so 
it is logical that for-loops don't use .. syntax.
 
> So wouldn't it be easier to write
> 
> |  for Bla := X do ...
> 
> here, when X is some range type, I'd like to iterate over? Again I have 
> to Write "Low (X) to High (X)" quite similar to the "case" case.

It would be easier but you would miss the direction information.

> I suppose changing that behaviour regarding range types is not an option 
> at all, so I'd ask for some other improvement:
> 
> *deep breath*
> 
> What about a compiler built-in like Low() and High() called Range() 
> where its return type indicates something that would be compatible to a 
> case and for label and just denote the range of the whole type?
> 
> Basically a short cut to the "Low (Type) ..|to High (Type)" expression, 
> but without the possible pitfall of writing
> 
>    Low (Type) .. High (A_Similar_And_Unfortunately_Compatible_Type)
> 
> and thus being less error-prone...?

It looks okay, but does this pitfall actually exist? 
low(colour)..high(wind_direction) would be a type violation.
 
> I mean, doing:
> 
> |for Bla := Range (X) do

See direction problem.

> or
> 
> |case Bla in
> |Range (X): ...
> 
> doesn't actually look unreadable to me...

Indeed, but do you solve a problem? I.e. I can imagine some kind of syntax 
to allow set constants would help, but this seems mostly a typing 
shortcut.

Daniël