Lambda the Ultimate

inactiveTopic The JScript Type System, Part One
started 11/6/2003; 2:44:30 AM - last post 11/6/2003; 11:58:32 AM
Dan Shappir - The JScript Type System, Part One  blueArrow
11/6/2003; 2:44:30 AM (reads: 7562, responses: 1)
The JScript Type System, Part One
I thought I might spend a few days talking about the JScript and JScript .NET type systems, starting with some introductory material.

Eric, a Microsoft JScript and JScript.NET guy, begins a discussion of the ins and outs of the JScript type system.

There is a lot of terminology associated with type systems. What exactly is weak typing? What is a subtype? Just what is a type anyway? These terms are often bandied about and seldom actually defined precisely.

First installment is an introduction of types in the context of JavaScript.

Posted to general by Dan Shappir on 11/6/03; 3:31:15 AM

Isaac Gouy - Re: The JScript Type System, Part One  blueArrow
11/6/2003; 11:58:32 AM (reads: 305, responses: 0)
Ehud provided a reference work for type system terminology a while ago.

My understanding of type systems is poor - so I find it much more helpful when we can use the same basic terminology. I don't see what the problem is with Luca Cardelli's definitions.

Maybe there's some concern about negative connotations when a language is described as untyped? Have we just abbreviated too much? Should that be a language with untyped variables?

Seems right to me that we can describe Smalltalk as untyped and safe, and C as typed and unsafe.