Re: Looking for new language features (re-elaboration)

> Or are there "wish lists" of things that people would like to see in
> langauges?


True iterators (ala Clu or Metaware Pascal). Don't even try to pass
off those things that C++ calls iterators (which are really "cursors")
for this feature.


Computed GOTO (just like FORTRAN). Great for writing interpreters and
state machines (case/switch just isn't the right solution here).


Pass by name (i.e., lazy evaluation) parameters, as well as pass by
value, reference, and value-returned.


Functions and procedures must be 1st class objects.


Strong macro processing facilities (Yes, I must dredge that one up again).


Built-in pattern matching ala SNOBOL4 or Icon.


Heck, throw in SETL's set handling capabilities too :-)


A declarative statement that handles events would be nice; something
like "ON event DO <<statement sequence>> end;"


Definitely the ability to work at low, high, and very high levels
of abstraction (why should I have to drop into assembly language
or do part of the project in Prolog if this is a great language?)


Have we gotten to PL/I yet? :-)
Randy Hyde
[While it's at it, I'd like the compiler to determine whether the program
halts or not. -John]

Return to the comp.compilers page.
Search the comp.compilers archives again.