Contestcen@aol.com wrote:
Do not built things into the compiler (or ask for them) that can be done outside of it. Building in things is many times as much work. Maybe I haven't stressed this enough so far because it's so obvious to me, but not to those who haven't worked in the compiler.
I understand, but the balance changes when 10 people, or 100 or 1000 people need to do the same thing.
No, it doesn't.
Which is more work, a compiler writer making a hard change, or 100 people each writing a set of relatively straightforward code?
You know that libraries/units/modules can be shared? So it's more that publishing of generally useful libraries should be more encouraged.
(And if you're worried that 100 people would each prefer a different interface -- that's even more of a problem when built into the compiler, in which case the one built-in interface is compulsory for anyone who wants to use the features.)
Frank