Questions tagged [language-agnostic]
This tag is for questions that aren't specific to a programming language or environment.
505
questions
-2
votes
1answer
55 views
Are all sockets implemented as per the Berkeley sockets specification?
Are all sockets implemented as per the Berkeley sockets specification in all platforms or languages? What I am trying to understand is; is this the only standard for sockets implementation or there ...
1
vote
1answer
98 views
Parallel execution: 1 thread pool or N thread pools?
I have a tree generated by configuration.
Each leaf of the tree is a long running task (like DB query, reading from file, etc.) that gives a result I want to store in a mirrored tree with only the ...
1
vote
3answers
190 views
Are 'array elements' and 'array values' the same?
Array := {"title": "Book Title", "author": "John Doe"}
Some people use the following terminology:
title and author are keys.
Book Title and John Doe are values.
"title": "Book Title" and "author": ...
1
vote
5answers
334 views
When do I stop being paranoid about my code failing? [closed]
I'm currently designing a system that, no matter how hard I try to break, slow network, failures, random server deaths, it can recover and it can re-build again. Each action it does is a fragment and ...
2
votes
2answers
165 views
Is there a guideline as to when I should pass a collection as an argument or return a new collection?
Suppose I have the following methods:
def read(file: str) -> List[str]:
temp = []
with open(file) as f_obj:
for line in f_obj:
temp.append(line)
return temp
def ...
1
vote
1answer
73 views
What is the BNF (or BNF-like) syntax for a specific number of repetitions?
I would like to write something like
<byte> ::= <bit>*8
to mean that a <byte> is a sequence of exactly 8 <bit>'s.
Is there a way to do this in BNF[1][2] or a widely used ...
1
vote
2answers
73 views
Localize a countdown timer
I have a very specific localization problem that I have not had any luck finding specific information about in my research.
I have an app that I'm localizing that shows elapsed minutes(M), seconds(S),...
0
votes
2answers
94 views
Negation of sameness is confirmation of difference [closed]
De Morgan's laws:
the negation of a disjunction is the conjunction of the negations; and
the negation of a conjunction is the disjunction of the negations;
or, the same:
not (A or B) = not A and ...
0
votes
3answers
291 views
Do higher order functions violate the separation of data and code principle?
I am asking here something that is really haunting for years (for real !).
I guess in a "perfect world", we would have programs made of data models and functions, and those functions manipulate data ...
10
votes
5answers
491 views
If-else ladder that is supposed to catch all conditions - should a redundant final clause be added?
This is a thing I'm doing a lot lately.
Example:
setCircle(circle, i, { current }) {
if (i == current) {
circle.src = 'images/25CE.svg'
circle.alt = 'Now picking'
} else if (...
2
votes
1answer
254 views
Guard block moved to the bottom [closed]
Sometimes it is a good idea to have a guard block:
https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/a/157413
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guard_(computer_science)
Guard block guards against special ...
3
votes
1answer
177 views
How to make updates to data and return list of updates without breaking Command query separation or DRY?
I have a use case to make updates to a slightly complex JSON object and then return the list of changes made (not the updated data). The process of finding the list of changes is extremely similar to ...
3
votes
5answers
338 views
Should exceptions be only thrown if I intend to crash the program? [duplicate]
...I wanted to find the source before writing this Q, sadly I couldn't.
My mental model was that exceptions were thought as an alternative to returning error codes from a function, which is the C ...
1
vote
1answer
114 views
Bin packing with “flexible” items: Does this algorithmic problem have a name? [closed]
I have stumbled upon the following problem: I have one list of containers with "capacities", and a list of items with quantities. I want to assign those items to the containers. The total capacity of ...
2
votes
1answer
302 views
Does it violate GRASP if a Character class checks if it can carry a weapon?
Before I ask my question, I'm aware of Eric Lippert's Wizard and Warrior series.
I'm trying to understand GRASP, but I'm having a hard time determining if this class violates GRASP.
Suppose if I ...
4
votes
3answers
215 views
Is using exceptions to validate parameters a violation of using exceptions for control flow?
I was reading on SO and SESE about exceptions and control flow, but I can't seem to determine or figure out if using exceptions to validate parameters is a violation of that guideline.
Suppose I had ...
10
votes
2answers
575 views
How could thread safety be provided by a programming language similar to the way memory safety is provided by Java and C#?
Java and C# provide memory safety by checking array bounds and pointer dereferences.
What mechanisms could be implemented into a programming language to prevent the possibility of race conditions and ...
1
vote
1answer
51 views
(Fuzzy) Data duplication detection - scoring systems strategy
Many systems that store data in a structured manner (although this is marked language agnostic, the origin of this question is an MS SQL database) struggle with duplicates.
Taking a physical person/...
1
vote
3answers
483 views
How do I test unreachable code?
Let's say your company sells software that comes with customizable text, and your team's job is to customize it. The client engagement includes a contract in which the client specifies all of the text ...
7
votes
2answers
420 views
Encapsulating moving parts in OO vs Minimizing moving parts in FP
I am from OO background just started learning FP paradigm. Came across quote by Michael Feathers - "OO makes code understandable by encapsulating moving parts. FP makes code understandable by ...
1
vote
3answers
287 views
Are unit tests needed for a function that only calls another function?
Assuming OldModule.oldFunc, if we want to move oldFunc to NewModule and, for backward compatibility, keep oldFunc there merely calling NewModule.newFunc by passing the exact same arguments and doing ...
2
votes
2answers
212 views
Cumulative sum of overlapping increase/decrease over time
I am looking for an efficient way to handle a calculation. I have lots of timestamped events, representing loading and unloading of trucks. I need to construct the filling rate of these trucks over ...
10
votes
4answers
2k views
What should I do when optimistic locking doesn't work?
I have this following scenario:
A user makes a GET request to /projects/1 and receives an ETag.
The user makes a PUT request to /projects/1 with the ETag from step #1.
The user makes another PUT ...
3
votes
3answers
655 views
How to handle “Optimistic Locking” on a collection with ETag headers?
Consider endpoint /projects that returns a list of projects with the following headers:
HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Etag: "superEtag"
The etag value represents a hash of the entire collection and it does not ...
-2
votes
1answer
89 views
How to measure complexity of expressions?
I'm comparing two APIs to generate a method in C# and want to measure how "complex" the code to use them is. Consider:
API A:
MethodDeclaration(PredefinedType(Token(IntKeyword)), "CompareTo")
....
1
vote
4answers
336 views
What should be the last entry in a switch/case statement?
When writing a switch statement that only ever has to deal with a known set of values (imagine an implicit enumeration), I find myself wondering what should be the last entry in the construct. I'm ...
6
votes
3answers
327 views
Equal length variable names: tricks or alternatives? [closed]
This might be a super nerdy, OCD-like, silly question, but... I love it when related variables have names of equal length, such that when written below one another, it lines up nicely. Eg:
min/max:
...
9
votes
1answer
247 views
Name of technique for inferring type arguments of a type parameter?
Setup: Let's assume we have a type called Iterator which has a type parameter Element:
interface Iterator<Element> {}
Then we have an interface Iterable which has one method which will return ...
6
votes
6answers
588 views
Is it bad practice to code the solution, then redo in TDD?
I might be wrong, but I feel like the best approach to TDD is Solution, Red, Green, Refactor (adding "Solution" to the standard formula).
By coding the solution first, I feel like I am much more ...
1
vote
1answer
138 views
How can I used fixed-point arithmetic to convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit?
Disclaimer: I realize this is not the easiest or even best way to handle this and I am asking largely out of a sense of curiosity, not because I'm convinced this is the proper way. It's a fun puzzle I'...
1
vote
3answers
420 views
Does the Perfect Compiler trump source differences
Is it theoretically possible to create a perfect compiler for a language (for example C) meaning that if two different persons make two different implementations of the same algorithm then the ...
8
votes
5answers
393 views
Should methods that are not “pure functions” and that interact with external APIs or hardware be static?
When reading about when to make a method static or not, I've seen a general principle, as summarized by this post, that a method should only be static if it does not modify a state and its result ...
13
votes
4answers
1k views
How can you TDD for a bug that can only be tested after it has been fixed?
Here's one example: My web application contains draggable elements. When dragging an element, the browser produces a "ghost image". I want to remove the "ghost image" when dragging and I write a test ...
1
vote
1answer
60 views
Using a permissions object pervasively inside a project to mimic an effect system
There's a design pattern of sorts that I've thought about but haven't seen implemented where every function / method passes around a permissions object. I'm wondering whether using it in a project is ...
3
votes
2answers
145 views
API across multiple languages. Use idiomatic code for each or support the same API structure
I'm currently working on a project which requires to support multiple languages as first class citizens and I'm facing a dilemma. I can choose between implementing the API as closely as possible for ...
0
votes
1answer
409 views
AST design: Call is both expression and statement?
I'm designing the AST for a compiler and found that I don't actually know how to represent the Call node.
Currently, the relevant part of the AST looks like this (where the arrows denote inheritance):...
1
vote
2answers
454 views
RabbitMQ as backbone for services written in different languages
I'm seeking advice from people using RabbitMQ to connect services written in different languages. Currently my organization is using RabbitMQ exclusively with C# and it's all working quite well. In ...
1
vote
2answers
137 views
Distinction between “timestamp” and “datetime” [closed]
Is it common to use "timestamp" to mean with time zone and "datetime" to mean without time zone?
1
vote
2answers
290 views
How is code coverage measured?
For many languages there are various tools which measure code coverage. But how exactly does this work?
I have some ideas, how this could work:
Do coverage tools just run the code in the debugger ...
11
votes
7answers
830 views
In object oriented languages, when should objects do operations on themselves and when should operations be done on objects?
Suppose there is a Page class, which represents a set of instructions to a page renderer. And Suppose there is a Renderer class that knows how to render a page on screen. It is possible to structure ...
8
votes
6answers
2k views
How to name a method which may or may not perform an action depending on a condition?
I stumble across this case somewhat often, and I'm surprised about finding so few similar discussions around the web. This question is very related, but my problem is that I want a method that does ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
How to update the view when the model changes?
Since I'm learning the MVC pattern, this might be a very naive question.
I know that when something happens on the view (e.g. user clicks a button), the view calls the controller which in turn ...
-2
votes
1answer
69 views
Proof that computer communication only exists of function calls and events
I am writing a paper about the use of a message broker for inter-process communication where I state that all computer communications can be broken down into two categories:
Function calls
Events
My ...
10
votes
4answers
449 views
How exactly does a compiler recover from a type error?
I've read several papers, articles, and section 4.1.4, chapter 4 of Compilers: Principles, Techniques, and Tools (2nd Edition) (a.k.a "The Dragon Book") which all discuss the topic of syntactical ...
3
votes
5answers
420 views
Why don't OOP languages offer a feature to clone a parent into a child class?
Consider the following c# example:
public class MyParentClass {
public int MyInt { get; set; }
}
public class MyChildClass : MyParentClass
{
}
public class AnotherClass
{
public MyChildClass ...
2
votes
2answers
325 views
How to avoid generating verbose code when compiling from a higher level language to a lower one?
I apologize in advance for the vague title. I didn't want to make it overly verbose, so allow me to explain more in-depth below:
I've currently been developing a strong, statically typed language ...
72
votes
10answers
16k views
Is it good practice to replace division with multiplication when possible?
Whenever I need division, for example, condition checking, I would like to refactor the expression of division into multiplication, for example:
Original version:
if(newValue / oldValue >= ...
9
votes
4answers
1k views
Is having a generator language facility such as `yield` a good idea?
PHP, C#, Python and likely a few other languages have a yield keyword that is used to create generator functions.
In PHP: http://php.net/manual/en/language.generators.syntax.php
In Python: https://...
4
votes
5answers
297 views
Does only the concept of mathematical functions justify why methods need only to return one value
Most modern programming languages do not allow multiple return types (excluding scenarios like C#'s out parameters or the newest use of Tuples). This is because all languages implement the concept of ...
4
votes
1answer
127 views
Tool for validation of new code syntax in existing language
Does a programming language team have any tool to validate their new ideas about new code syntax?
As an example, let's assume the Java language team starts developing new feature, which requires new ...
