RE: PL/SQL best practices ? How to go to end of loop (i.e. next record)

Afternoon all,

>> Avoid goto at all cost.
Hmmm.


>> http://www.u.arizona.edu/~rubinson/copyright_violations/Go_To
>> _Considered_Harmful.html
Hmmm. Edgar has a valid point, but I'm loath to support the "avoid at
all costs" proposition.

What's the difference between "EXIT" and "GOTO" to exit from a loop?
Nothing other than semantics in my opinion. Both jump from current point
of execution to the end of the loop. Job done. They are, in effect, both
GOTOs.

CONTINUE [WHEN] and GOTO are also similar, both jump back to the start
of the loop. In effect, they are both GOTOs.

So, having said that, I haven't used a GOTO yet in any of my PL/SQL
programming. I use them all the time in my assembly stuff - no other
choice really!

What Edgar (and Toon) possibly should have said is "avoid GOTO whenever
possible, however, be aware that there are times when using one will
make your code more readable and easier to write."

The Linux source code uses it quite frequently and effectively and it
does make the source far easier to read.

I've seen programmers with a total aversion to using GOTO write code
with so many nested IFs that it became quite difficult to figure out
where you were and what you were attempting to do. Whereas the use of a
simple GOTO would have saved lots of typing and heart ache.

Use GOTO, but only when it's the correct choice. Never say never!
(Sorry, I just did!)

<Dons flame proof suit, sits back, and waits ....>

Cheers,
Norm.




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