3 ms·
No. Pass-by-reference has meant exactly what I described, for at least 44 years, when Barbara Liskov decided it didn't apply to the calling scheme she invented
by colanderman 9y ago
No.
Pass-by-reference has meant exactly what I described, for at least 44 years, when Barbara Liskov decided it didn't apply to the calling scheme she invented, which was later inherited by Java.
Read: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evaluation_strategy#Call_by_sharing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evaluation_strategy#Call_by_sh... Specifically, "it is not call by reference because access is not given to the variables of the caller, but merely to certain objects."
- lmm 9y agoCoining a new term is the right approach if you want to draw that distinction. "Java is call by sharing" would be fine. "Java is call by value" is more wrong than "Java is call by reference".
- colanderman 9y agoGlad I could convince you.
- lmm 9y agoGlad you have to make up things that didn't happen to make yourself feel better. Wait, no, not glad. That's really tragic. I hope you're ok.
- colanderman 9y agoI don't know, "'Java is call by sharing' would be fine" looks pretty similar to my first comment on this story [1]. I thought we were on the same page. I suggest you re-read the Hacker News guidelines [2] for what constitutes acceptable discourse on this site. Your first comment to me [3] and your most recent comment demonstrate a lack of civility on your part. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16896221 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16896221 [2] https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html [3] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16896569 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16896569
- lmm 9y ago> I don't know, "'Java is call by sharing' would be fine" looks pretty similar to my first comment on this story [1]. I thought we were on the same page. On that much we are. But if we are reducing it to a dichotomy of "call by reference" versus "call by value", as the original article does (which is a simplified model of the space of possibilities, but legitimate; all models are false, some are useful), then "java is call by reference" is the true statement, because java's behaviour is within the sphere of "call by reference" behaviours and very much distinct from the sphere of "call by value" behaviours. > I suggest you re-read the Hacker News guidelines [2] for what constitutes acceptable discourse on this site. Your first comment to me [3] and your most recent comment demonstrate a lack of civility on your part. You first; I've been matching your tone when replying to you, that's all.
- colanderman 9y agoYou've personally mocked me twice. I've done no such thing to you or anyone else. Please try to be more civil in the future.
- lmm 9y agoAgain, you first. The posts I replied to were just as personal as my responses.