[TriLUG] Gmail invite

[Matt Frye]

Copying _doesn't_ count, but Mike seems to at least understand
Jensen's Device.

The key is pass-by-name parameter passing, whereby argument
expressions are compiled to parameterless procedures - the infamous
"thunk."  Thunks can be passed into a called procedure to re-evaluate
the argument.

Good stuff.  

MPF


On Tue, 24 Aug 2004 07:40:13 -0400, Mike M
<no-linux-support at earthlink.net> wrote:
> On Tue, Aug 24, 2004 at 02:28:29AM -0400, Matt Frye wrote:
> > A Gmail invite to the first person who can describe Jensen's Device
> > and it's significance in modern computer programming.
> 
> Jensen's Device : uses the property that name parameters are
> re-evaluated on every reference
> 
> passing parameters by name creates a new instance of that variable
> and it's initial value
> 
> It appears to be the basis of the function, procedure, and object
> in modern programing languages.  It also may have been the beginning
> of the end of the "goto" or "jump" control mechanism.
> 
> The goto is by no means dead in real-time control.  It actually makes
> code easier to read when there are deeply nested conditions.
> 
> Reference:
> http://www.augustana.ca/~mohrj/courses/common/csc370/lecture_notes/algol3.html
> 
> >
> > If you already have Gmail, don't be a hot shot.  Sit on your hands
> > until the end of the day.  If no one gets it by then, I'll trade it
> > for a beer.
> >
> > MPF
> > --
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> 
> --
> Mike
> 
> Moving forward in pushing back the envelope of the corporate paradigm.
> 
> 
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