Re: A java DEBUG flag

[Kevin A. Burton]

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Brian Jones <address@hidden> writes:
<snip>
> What do you mean by not a good idea?  The gcj guys did this to get
> more information when debugging classes in a simple way which can be
> compiled out easily when you don't want to debug.  So my post was just
> to say I've added the same configure stuff to support this to
> classpath.  We share java source code between projects so it makes
> sense for us to do this.

Well... I am kind of at a disadvantate here because the decision has already
been made.  It would be hard to migrate away from this even if I was right.

The theory at least is that you never use a precompiler.  Just just if () {} out
your code because it REALLY pays off in code maintenance in the long run.  The
IBM Log4J stuff is a good example.  You leave the code the same but when you
deploy you just turn off the debug and only get about a 0.5% lag.  Worth it if
you consider the time it will take maintaining this code in the long run.

.... there is a small section about this in the original JLS I believe....

There is also a SUN JSR for this stuff about assertions.  The assertion stuff is
a language extension so that you can exclude it on compiles.  

<snip>

> I have thought of one problem however.  It might be more useful to
> break down debugging into at least package specific flags as opposed
> to turning on debugging for the entire world with this one flag... and
> I'd like a better name than GCJDEBUG... ideas?

This is in the SUN Assertion JSR.
http://java.sun.com/aboutJava/communityprocess/jsr/asrt_prop.html

... The documentation is public but we certainly can not participate in its
development because of SUNs *stupid* IP restrictions in the JCP.  There are good
ideas here though and since this stuff will eventually make it into JDK 1.4 I
would say it should eventually belong here.

Kevin
- -- 
Kevin A. Burton ( address@hidden, address@hidden, address@hidden )
        Cell: 408-910-6145 URL: http://relativity.yi.org ICQ: 73488596 

Intellectual property does not exist!  Get over it!
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