Number literals (Was: Re: Case Range Statement ..)

[Walter Bright]

BCS wrote:
> Hello Walter,
> 
>> Jarrett Billingsley wrote:
>>
>>> Totally agree.  They're cruft that just complicate lexical analysis.
>>>
>> Not a significant issue, as the code to lex it is done, works, and is
>> readily available.
>>
> 
> But that assumes that just using the lexer is acceptable. What if 
> someone needs to generate there own lexer? Say in a different language, 
> like D?. Or they want to generate a token highlighter?

Oh please, it's trivial to translate.

> Or what about if 
> they need to make a tool in a shop that has a bad case of NIH? Or where 
> they must /own/ the code for legal reasons.

For a fee that would be less than what it would cost them to develop a 
simpler integer lexer, I'd license it to them under whatever terms they 
want.

Sure, I've run into companies that would cheerfully blow through $30,000 
of engineering time trying to duplicate what I'd license to them for 
$500, but NIH people are determined to immolate themselves anyway.