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From: shang@corp.mot.com (David L. Shang)
Subject: Re: Combining dynamic and static typing
Reply-To: shang@corp.mot.com
Organization: MOTOROLA 
Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1997 16:04:20 GMT
Message-ID: <1997Jan28.160420.28915@schbbs.mot.com>
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In article <5celpp$n3r@csugrad.cs.vt.edu> nurban@csugrad.cs.vt.edu (Nathan M.  
Urban) writes:
> Thus, Objective-C gives you all the safety of C++'s static type
> checking, while retaining all the advantages of a dynamic language.

The advantage of static type checking is type error prevention:
to prevent type errors before it can happen.

Therefore, Objective-C cannot give the benefit of a static typing
system. Objective-C detects the type errors such as "Not a String"
at run-time. It does detection, not prevention! Detection is usually
not a solution to a problem. It is like an irresponsible doctor saying:
"Now I find what is wrong with you, it's your responsibility to figure
how to fix it. Want my suggetion? -- peace die -- crash!"

David Shang

