Re: Rapid Development system

Art S. Kagel wrote: > > Dave Adams wrote: > > > > In <34BBD91F.5210@bloomberg.com>, "Art S. Kagel" <kagel@bloomberg.com> writes: > [REAALLYY OLD POST REFERENCE SNIPPED] > [Dave's other stuff SNIPPED] > > > We are attempting to provide an environment where a c4gl-based application > > can be recompiled under RDS to facilitate debugging. I'm now breaking out > > the 4gl portions of our standard libraries into a new source code library > > just for debugging purposes, but I don't have any good solution for dealing > > with the ESQL/C code that manipulates 4gl global variables directly. I'm > > appealing, therefore, to the combined wisdom of this group (hi, John!) for > > any insight into the problems listed above. Our environment includes AIX > > version 4.2 for the RS/6000 series computers, Online DSA 7.22.UC2 engine and > > fglgo/fgldb version 6.04.UC3 with pcode version 602. The compiled functions > > (4gl and esql/c) were compiled via c4gl version 6.04.UC2. > > The ultimiate solution is: DO NOT USE GLOBAL VARIABLES FOR INTER-MODULE > COMMUNICATION! The inter-module cohesion this produces is the entire > cause of ALL of the problems that you are having with this application > and also the cause of many, as yet, undiscovered bugs you will have to > solve later. ALWAYS pass data between modules using the > function/procedure calling conventions unless it is absolutely > neccessary. I try to avoid this in my 4GL code as much as possible, > but it is inevitable withing 4GL that I will use globals. However, > when I interface between 4GL and C or ESQL/C I avoid global variables > like the plague as I do in my pure C and ESQL/C coding. I even make it > a habit to preceed the declaration of the few unavoidable globals with > some version of the following comment: > > /* GLOBALS -- I HATE THESE THINGS! */ > > As a reminder to not add anything to the global declarations without > serious thought. > > Art S. Kagel I add the prefix g_ to all my globals as a reminder and aid to search tools. It's a good idea to document all dependencies and side effects in every function description that uses globals. That should be discouragement enough! -- Peter Lancashire Information Systems Specialist, Bayer plc Eastern Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP32 7AH, UK Tel: +44-1635-562258, Fax: +44-1635-562281 Mail: Peter.Lancashire.PL1@bayer.co.uk --- My Internet plumbing does not allow me to mail and post news together. Sorry. All opinions are my own and not those of Bayer plc. --- Join Infuse, the UK Informix User Group at http://www.infuse.org.uk/