Constants

[luis]

I did a search but the word "constant" is very used as you can guess.

Well, sorry if already requested.


I would like to have a keyword "const" in addition to global, protected and so on.

Something like

Code: Select all

Const myconst.l

Protected Const localconst.l

Global Const globalconst.l

like the classical C/C++ keyword.

Just to get rid of some of the #MYCONST = 1 definitions and to have the ability to define local constants (would be nice) and to have constant parameters to procedures (e.g. constant pointers).

Well, here goes my request!

Thank you.

[Kaeru Gaman]

I'm curious what you would need it for?
it's a while ago I progged in C...

a PB constant is replaced while compile time.

what against using a normal variable and taking care not to alter it?

[luis]

a PB constant is replaced while compile time.

and it's only text, that's why you can't have a local const.

what against using a normal variable and taking care not to alter it?

- well, for once it makes clear the intentions of who wrote the proc:

"this variable is for input only", or read only if you prefer

- you can see that like some additional implicit documentation of the proc, too

- being a variable and not a preprocessor string, you could initialize it using other variables or a function

- const pointers (the pointer is fixed and can point only to the specific location used to initialize it)

- pointers to const (the pointer can't change the data, but the pointer can change and point to other data)

- const pointers to const (the pointer is fixed and can't change the data is pointing to)

and so on ...

[Kaeru Gaman]

yo, I get the point. thnx. as I said, just curious.
it can help to have additional support on keeping a variable unchanged, I see.

[luis]

Yep but not only that: you could have LOCAL consts (now you can't) and you could initialize constants in many ways (directly, using other variables, using procedures). Now you can't.

[Mistrel]

I see this feature as redundant and necessary. If you want something like this in your own code you can add a keyword to the IDE and parse for it with a pre-compiler.

[uwekel]

Hi, this is already an old post but this is what i need as well
+1

[luis]

I see this feature as redundant and necessary.

As long it's necessary ...

Amusement aside, no, it's not redundant at all.
A "Const" type qualifier is totally different from the current search and replace in the source for a literal constant, as it's evident from the examples I've made above.

Probably it will never be implemented, but that's another story.