Is there a difference between a “fault” and an “error” within a computer program? A number of people commented on my previous article suggesting this to be the case. I will try […]
Antiquated Error Handling: abort/exit
The abort function is a remnant of old programming practices, and it pains me to see it in modern software. While it’s great that a program detects an error, calling abort is […]
What is a closure?
Closures have been around a long time yet have experienced a resurgence in the last decade. They were first implemented in the functional language Scheme then later introduced to object-oriented programming in […]
A trail through custom languages
How often does one need to write a custom language? Many projects often shun them, but I think domain specific languages are important. They offer unique features and make certain tasks easier. […]
The syntax of a conditional
Conditionals are a key construct in programming: from the simple if statement, to loops and switches, and even to dynamic mapping. The essence of program flow is defined by its conditions and […]
Why I have my own Android game framework
All I wanted to do was to make a game for my Android tablet, so how come I ended up writing a new C++ framework? What happened? Between the standard Android SDK […]
Complexity of simple data types
Sometimes the simplest of things have complex answers. In programming we like to think of simple data types, but in reality there aren’t any. While it is nice to consider things as […]
Can a language be safe?
Some languages hand us sharp knives and encourage us to play with them. Other languages put us in padded rooms and discourage us from doing anything at all. Though it may sound […]
Abstract Machines, Interpreters and Compilers
Abstract machines are the core of what defines a programming language. A wide variety of operating systems and plethora of hardware ensures a bewildering number of things we call computers. When […]
How to choose a programming language?
Each new project, whether a standalone program, or a component for an existing program, faces a choice of programming language. Just using what is most popular, or what has been done before, […]
The Necessity of Exceptions
Exceptions often get a bad rap. They are called ineffective, inefficient, and hard to work with. In a way such accusations aren’t unfair, as most languages have totally screwed up their implementation. […]
Never use the “continue” keyword!
I was looking through some questions on StackOverflow last week when I came across a curious answer. In it there was a link to a coding standard that forbade the use of […]
What is reference counting?
Objects are created, live for a while, and then destroyed. While creation is fairly clear, the when and how of destruction is fairly language dependent. In languages like C you’re basically on […]
What’s an object? What’s a variable?
A variable is is the most fundamental concept in programming. You can’t do anything without variables. Yet most languages let you gloss over what these actually are. Simplicity often hides the truth. […]
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