Re: Easily-Read C++?

[Magnus.Kempe@di.epfl.ch (Magnus Kempe)]

Ada was _designed_ to be readable.  C++ is based on C, not something
which was designed to be readable (to say the least).


Is the code below readable? (pretty standard C++, no?)  Try.
Read it out, loud.
--------------------------------------------------------------
template <class T>
class Stack {
public:
  Stack () {size = 0; head = 0;};
  ~Stack () {if (head) delete head;};
  void push (T& a);
  void pop ();
  T& top () {return head->item;};
  int count () {return size;};
  bool operation== (Stack<T>& a);
private:
  int size;
  Node<T> *head;
};

template <class T>
class Node {
public:
  Node (T6 a, Node<T> *b): next(b), item(a) {};
  ~Node () {if (next != 0) delete next;};
private:
  T item;
  Node<T> *next;
friend class stack<T>;
};
--------------------------------------------------------------
How does one pronounce "void push (T& a);", or "Node<T> *b", or
"{}" ?  Do you notice the typos?


Compare to a pretty standard Ada 9X equivalent:
--------------------------------------------------------------
generic
  type Item_Type is
    private;
package Stack_G is
  type Stack_Type is
    tagged limited private;

  procedure Push (Stack : in out Stack_Type;
                  Item  : in     Item_Type);

  procedure Pop  (Stack : in out Stack_Type);

  function Count (Stack : Stack_Type)
    return Natural;

  function Top (Stack : Stack_Type)
    return Item_Type;

  operator "=" (Left, Right : Stack_Type)
    return Boolean;
private
  type Cell_Type;
  type Link_Type is
    access cell_Type;

  type Cell_Type is
    record
      Item : Item_Type;
      Next : Link_Type;
    end record;

  type Stack_Type is
    tagged limited record
      Size : Natural := 0;
      Head : Link_Type;
    end record;
end Stack_G;
--------------------------------------------------------------
Do you notice the typos?

-- 
Magnus Kempe		"I know not what course others may take, but as for me,
Magnus.Kempe@di.epfl.ch  Give me Liberty... or give me Death!" -- Patrick Henry