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List:       r-help
Subject:    Re: [R] Random number generation
From:       "Greg Snow" <Greg.Snow () imail ! org>
Date:       2008-05-12 15:58:06
Message-ID: B37C0A15B8FB3C468B5BC7EBC7DA14CC60EE5EC082 () LP-EXMBVS10 ! CO ! IHC ! COM
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: r-help-bounces@r-project.org
> [mailto:r-help-bounces@r-project.org] On Behalf Of Esmail Bonakdarian
> Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 7:25 AM
> To: Prof Brian Ripley
> Cc: r-help@stat.math.ethz.ch
> Subject: Re: [R] Random number generation

[snip]

> What I read doesn't seem to be incorrect however (it may even
> have been an archived message here), the *language* itself
> does not seem to support block *comments*. Using conditional
> constructs, or an IDE/editor to achieve similar results is a
> work around - but not the same. I don't mean to nitpick, but
> as a computer scientist I see this as different :-)

I am not a computer scientist, so correct me if I am wrong, but from what I remember \
(and a quick glance at my copy of Kernighan Ritchie), the C *language* itself does \
not support block *comments*, rather the preproccessor replaces the comments with a \
single space and the compilor does not even see them.

Since R is optimized for interactive use rather than compilation, running everything \
through a preproccessor is not really an option.  However as an additional work \
around you could always run your R scripts through the C preproccessor and have it \
strip the block comments for you.

Given the complexity of implementing block commenting (even deciding on the syntax) \
and the ease of current work arounds, the cost benefit ratio probably puts this very \
near the bottom of the priority list.


--
Gregory (Greg) L. Snow Ph.D.
Statistical Data Center
Intermountain Healthcare
greg.snow@imail.org
(801) 408-8111

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