Groups > comp.lang.java.programmer > #7637

Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc)

Date	2011-09-06 14:34 -0700
From	Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org>
Newsgroups	comp.lang.java.programmer
Subject	Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc)
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On 9/6/2011 1:41 PM, Jan Burse wrote:
> Patricia Shanahan schrieb:
>> conversions. The combination of the comment in question and reading the
>> code shows that they did not take that path. Instead, they always
>> convert for bit manipulation and advise use of BitSet instead.
>
> The Android comment can be corrected as follows:
> "It is adviced to use BitSet if only positive bit patterns
> come into play and if it is possible to use inline modifications."
>
> But the comment should maybe also include a warning, that using
> objects with inline modifications can lead to more programming
> errors. Reasons are for example that the objects are now mutable
> and thus various side effects can occur. Here is an example:
...
> But I guess you all know about these dangers.

Maybe this is a matter of how programmers are expected to respond to
advice to use a class.

My first reaction, before committing to the change or writing a line of
code using the recommended class, would be to find and read its API
documentation. The only exception is if I'm already extremely familiar
with the class. Even if I have used some features, using it in a new
context may call for re-reading the documentation.

If the note came from a tutorial for novice programmers, I would agree
with you. If it comes from ordinary documentation, I think programmers
should be able to draw their own conclusions from the BitSet documentation.

Patricia

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BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Jan Burse <janburse@fastmail.fm> - 2011-09-02 21:48 +0200
  Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2011-09-02 16:23 -0400
    Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org> - 2011-09-02 13:34 -0700
      Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Jan Burse <janburse@fastmail.fm> - 2011-09-02 22:51 +0200
        Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org> - 2011-09-02 18:58 -0700
          Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Jan Burse <janburse@fastmail.fm> - 2011-09-03 20:15 +0200
            Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org> - 2011-09-03 12:37 -0700
              Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Jan Burse <janburse@fastmail.fm> - 2011-09-03 22:46 +0200
                Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org> - 2011-09-03 16:32 -0700
                Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Jan Burse <janburse@fastmail.fm> - 2011-09-04 02:58 +0200
                Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2011-09-05 19:32 -0400
                Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Jan Burse <janburse@fastmail.fm> - 2011-09-06 08:58 +0200
                Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2011-09-06 00:41 -0700
                Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Jan Burse <janburse@fastmail.fm> - 2011-09-06 11:57 +0200
                Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Jan Burse <janburse@fastmail.fm> - 2011-09-06 12:12 +0200
                Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Jan Burse <janburse@fastmail.fm> - 2011-09-06 12:44 +0200
                Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Jan Burse <janburse@fastmail.fm> - 2011-09-06 12:02 +0200
                Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org> - 2011-09-06 13:38 -0700
                Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org> - 2011-09-06 10:33 -0700
                Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Jan Burse <janburse@fastmail.fm> - 2011-09-06 22:28 +0200
                Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Jan Burse <janburse@fastmail.fm> - 2011-09-06 22:41 +0200
                Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org> - 2011-09-06 14:34 -0700
                Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2011-09-06 14:51 -0700
                Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Jan Burse <janburse@fastmail.fm> - 2011-09-07 00:33 +0200
                Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Jan Burse <janburse@fastmail.fm> - 2011-09-07 00:40 +0200
            Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2011-09-05 19:26 -0400
      Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Robert Klemme <shortcutter@googlemail.com> - 2011-09-03 17:01 +0200
    Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Jan Burse <janburse@fastmail.fm> - 2011-09-02 22:49 +0200
      Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Gene Wirchenko <genew@ocis.net> - 2011-09-02 14:48 -0700
  Re: BitSet vs BigInteger (false Android doc) Eric Sosman <esosman@ieee-dot-org.invalid> - 2011-09-03 13:54 -0400

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