Re: Reference function arguments by name

On 2013-05-09 21:46, Erwin Brandstetter wrote:
> Hi!
>
> The manual says here:
> http://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/interactive/sql-createfunction.html
> http://www.postgresql.org/docs/devel/static/sql-createfunction.html
>
>> argname
>>
>> The name of an argument. Some languages (currently only PL/pgSQL)
>> let you use the name in the function body. For other languages
>> the name of an input argument is just extra documentation, so far
>> as the function itself is concerned; but you can use input
>> argument names when calling a function to improve readability
>> (see Section 4.3
>> <http://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/interactive/sql-syntax-calling-funcs.html>).
>> In any case, the name of an output argument is significant,
>> because it defines the column name in the result row type. (If
>> you omit the name for an output argument, the system will choose
>> a default column name.)
>>
>
> This has changed in version 9.2. SQL functions can reference the name.
> Ergo:
>
> s /(currently only PL/pgSQL) / (currently only PL/pgSQL and SQL)
>
>
> I tested it and it's /correctly /documented here:
> http://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/interactive/xfunc-sql.html#XFUNC-SQL-FUNCTION-ARGUMENTS
>
> > Arguments of a SQL function can be referenced in the function body
> using either names or numbers.
>
>
> Regards
> Erwin
It looks strongly that you people are of the opinion that "the code
documents
itself". That is a myth produced by lazy software developers who cannot
document
their code properly. You ought to be using Cweb for C code. Have a look at
the code for SQLite to see how comments in C can be used to provide decent
documentation

Fortunately, I do not use C. I prefer a HIGH-level language :-)

--
Sian Mountbatten
Algol 68 Specialist