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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 1995 11:49:59 GMT From: Roger Browne <rogerb@eiffel.demon.co.uk> Subject: Discussion: HASHABLE To: nice-esg-libs@atlanta.twr.com Library Committee Members, I would like to get the ball rolling for the next series of changes to the ELS. There are some errors and inconsistencies in ELS95 which make it look a little unprofessional if viewed beside, say, an ADA standard. We should fix these errors before the next release. My first suggestion (prompted by Brian Strelioff) is a very simple one. Class: HASHABLE Proposed Change: That the "note" in the indexing clause be removed. Details: This note currently reads: "In general, the default value of a type (e.g. 0 for integers, void for references) may not be hashed." Rationale: The preconditions to 'hash_code' which supported this note in other revisions of HASHABLE do not appear in the ELS95 document, therefore it seems to me that the inclusion of this note in ELS95 is an oversight. Certainly, a hash code is much less useful if it cannot be computed for default values. Migration strategy: There is no problem here. Any existing system should continue to work correctly. I post this proposal for discussion only at this time. If no-one posts any convincing argument against this change, I will present it as a formal motion. Christine, is there any particular format in which you want such motions, or is something like the above OK? The previous template does not seem appropriate for small changes like this one. I think the only requirement should be that a proposal includes an unambiguous description of the proposed change to the wording of the standard. Regards, Roger -- -- Roger Browne, 6 Bambers Walk, Wesham, PR4 3DG, UK | Ph 01772-687525 -- Everything Eiffel: compilers/libraries/publications | +44-1772-687525
