Mailing-List: contact ant-dev-help@jakarta.apache.org; run by ezmlm
From: <Glen_Stampoultzis@ansett.com.au>
To: ant-dev@jakarta.apache.org
Cc: "'ant-dev@jakarta.apache.org'" <ant-dev@jakarta.apache.org>
Message-Id: <4A256975.00124094.00@melmta.vic.ansett.com.au>
Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2000 13:13:29 +1000
Subject: RE: [PATCH] New <case> task
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Disposition: inline


Just curious as to whether there is a specific problem that you are trying to
overcome with the addition of this task.  It usually helps me if I can associate
a given solution with the problem it's trying to overcome.

Regards,

     Glen Stampoultzis


Jose Alberto Fernandez <JFernandez@viquity.com> on 11/10/2000 11:01:14 AM

Please respond to ant-dev@jakarta.apache.org

To:   "'ant-dev@jakarta.apache.org'" <ant-dev@jakarta.apache.org>
cc:    (bcc: Glen Stampoultzis/ITD/MEL/Ansett/AU)
Subject:  RE: [PATCH] New <case> task


If we were to follow this line of thought to their last consequences,
We should remove <available> because we should be doing that with scripts.
I see no difference what so ever between setting a property based on the
existance of a file or setting a property based on a value.

To me scripting is using a cannon ball to kill a fly. Why do I need to have
BSF installed and learn javascript, or netrexx or some other language AND
download the interpreter for such language just to be able to make decision
based on a value.

With respect to whether we are going procedural here, I was very careful on
the construct to stay declarative. The case statement is one of the
constructs allowed in every single declarative language I know, from PROLOG
(where you do it with unification) to all the functional languages and the
parallel declarative languages as well.
This is not more procedural than <available>. Actually, <available> is more
procedural, given that it can check external resources that can be change
depending on the execution order.

I am offering this task because I think it is a functionality that should be
in ANTs core, and not be in some optional part of ANT that requires you to
download extra stuff and learn extra languajes.

I hope you agree with my point of view.

Jose Alberto

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sean Brandt [mailto:sean@fuzzymagic.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2000 5:48 PM
> To: ant-dev@jakarta.apache.org
> Subject: Re: [PATCH] New <case> task
>
>
>     Hmm, with the advent of dynamic properties, scripting
> really should be the
> answer for this type of problem, IMHO. Perhaps there should
> be a contrib package
> of useful utility scripts?
>
> - Sean Brandt
>
>


_____________________________________________________________________
CAUTION - This message may contain privileged and confidential 
information intended only for the use of the addressee named above.
If you are not the intended recipient of this message you are hereby 
notified that any use, dissemination, distribution or reproduction 
of this message is prohibited. If you have received this message in 
error please notify Ansett Australia immediately. Any views expressed 
in this message are those of the individual sender and may not 
necessarily reflect the views of Ansett Australia.

ABN Ansett Australia Ltd	37 004 209 410
ABN Ansett International Ltd	72 060 622 460
_____________________________________________________________________