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From: davis@ilog.fr (Harley Davis)
Subject: Re: Reference Counting (was Re: Searching Method for Incremental Garbage Collection)
In-Reply-To: mat@mole-end.matawan.nj.us's message of Tue, 13 Dec 1994 15:05:11 GMT
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Date: 15 Dec 1994 16:39:39 GMT
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In article <1994Dec13.150511.11881@mole-end.matawan.nj.us> mat@mole-end.matawan.nj.us writes:

   I'd like to remind people (including those that didn't get it the first
   time) is that the `need' for GC arises when (a) a _value_ is represented
   using an indefinite number or selection of _objects_ and (b) there is no
   relationship established between a given value representation and the
   activity which (may) need it.

   If you avoid these problems, you avoid the whole issue.

   It's not always possible to avoid (a); what is necessary then is to avoid
   (b).

   There are a few problems in which this is not a practical approach.  There
   are many more in which it is very practical.

This whole discussion of when you need and don't need a GC is
misplaced, in my opinion.  We don't really need spreadsheets either,
but they sure are handy.  The way I see it, whenever I can get a
computer to do some menial, boring, repetitive task for me, I take
advantage of it.  A GC is a time-saving device, and I need all the
time I can get to make my applications fully functional, bug-free,
delivered on-time, and fast.  This, much more than need, is the reason
why I want a GC around.

-- Harley
-- 

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