The graphical user interface of an IDE option panel for the GNU Pascal
compiler, could have checkboxes for options iike "short-circuit",
"extended-syntax" and many other.
Now, if the user e.g. checks the "short-circuit" checkbox and unchecks
the "extended-syntax" checkbox, the IDE plug-in could choose (1) to
pass no command line arguments to GPC for these options, because both
are set to their default (2) to pass command line arguments for both
options, whatever their default.
The disadvantage of (1) is that it breaks if the default changes or if
the documentation is wrong, of (2) that it cumulates into a very long
list of arguments. Any advice on what is the lesser evil ?
Things become more difficult if the default for an option depends on
the Pascal dialect, as with "ignore-packed" and other options. Here, a
three-state user interface element "default, yes, no" may be the
alternative.
Regards,
Adriaan van Os