Re: By value-result vs by reference

hbaker@netcom.com (Henry G. Baker) writes:
: I have shown how _any_ use of pass-by-value/result can be used to
: compromise an Ada 'limited private' type for which assignment by the user
: is not allowed. It is true that the way I compromise it is 'erroneous',
: but I am not aware of any compiler or interpreter which performs the
: necessary checks to detect the error. The reference is:
:
: Baker, H.G. "How to Steal from a Limited Private Account -- Why Mode IN
: OUT Parameters for Limited Types _Must_ be Passed by Reference". ACM Ada
: Letters XIII,3 (May/June 1993), 91-95.


I'm familiar with the article but the example is so contrived I have a
hard time believing anyone would accidently write code like that. I've
never seen a convincing example showing how someone might accidently
write an "erroneous" program, only how you can write one on purpose.


However, I am very much in agreement on your insistance on semantic
consistency. I find this particular quirk in Ada rather irksome not
because I have ever had a problem with it but because I'm not sure
I won't. A lot of language quirks fall into the same category.


- Robb Nebbe
--

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