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From: John Fletcher (j.p.fletcher_at_[hidden])
Date: 2001-06-28 07:02:03


To: <boost_at_[hidden]>
From: "Richard Peters" <R.A.Peters_at_[hidden]>
Date sent: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 13:12:05 +0100
Send reply to: boost_at_[hidden]
Subject: Re: [boost] Re: Tuple library accepted

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kloss, Burkhard" <Burkhard.Kloss_at_[hidden]>
>
>
> > >There was no conclusion (will there ever be?).
> > >Currently indexing is 1-based, and there's an upcoming article about
> > >tuples in CUJ, which describes them as 1-base indexed.
> > >However, this doesn't prevent taking the other alternative,
> > >if that is considered better.
> > >So those who feel strongly about this issue, speak up now and we'll
> > >change to 0-based. Otherwise, I'd suggest leaving it as it is.
> >
> > Just to cast my vote - 0 based indexing is far more consistent with other
> > indexing in C++ - I would find 1 based indexing terribly confusing.
> >
> > Burkhard
> >
>
> I second this. 1 based indexing seems to be used only by mathematicians, and
> even then only because everybody has done that in the past.
> With C++ (and afaik, in almost all other programming languages), the 0 based
> indexing is used because of easier intuitive use.
>
> Richard Peters
>
>

Surely one based indexing is used naturally in relation to the
counting of objects, starting from the experience of small children. I
don't go to shop to buy 0 packets of soap powder.

The tuple is a collection of objects of different types. I find it entirely
natural to think of the first object, second object, etc. in a
collection.

At their birthday, someone opens the first present, not the zeroth.

As a programmer, I use both FORTRAN (1 based by default) and
C/C++ (0 based) and know I have to change over

John Fletcher

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr John P. Fletcher Tel: (44) 121 359 3611 ext 4625
Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry (CEAC),
School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS),
Aston University, Fax: (44) 121 359 4094
Aston Triangle, Email: J.P.Fletcher_at_[hidden]
BIRMINGHAM B4 7ET U.K. CEAC Web site http://www.ceac.aston.ac.uk/


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