Re: Natural "for" Loop, using Plural / Singular transformations ??

olivier.chatelain@gmail.com wrote:
> Dear Compiler Cracks,
>
> What about using Plural => Singular transformations to generate loop
> variables from name of lists?
>
>
> EXAMPLE:
>
> FOR dependency IN dependencies DO
> PRINT dependency.name
> END
>
> = depenendcies -generates-> dependency =
>
> FORALL dependencies DO
> PRINT dependency.name
> END
> ...


When writing business applications for use in none English speaking
languages, it is common to let the identifiers be in the local
language, but few languages derive plural from singular the way it is
done in English.


Simply translating the local language words into English will not work
for two reasons: First many of the names in business applications
refer to local law and traditions. There may not be any good
translation into English. Secondly, take programmer whom native
language is not English.
        People tend to learn the parts of foreign languages they need in
their daily live. While most of these programmers can read English
texts about computer science you cannot assume that their English
vocabulary is good enough when it comes to business issues and law.


Then you could have the language localized for each language, but
experience tells that people want to buy software from other
countries, and of course multi national companies want to use the same
code in all countries. The experience is that localizing languages is
a pain because code cannot easily be ported from one country to
another.


Karsten Nyblad

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