Base new module format on XML - RFC and some questions

[Jerry DeLisle]

On 10/02/2010 10:13 AM, Dennis Wassel wrote:
> Hi list,
>
> thanks for your comments - and thanks Jerry for prodding me!
>
> To sum things up:
> There is almost an unanimous consensus against XML, mostly due to the
> fact that a new format does not by itsself fix the issues with
> gfortran's module handling, and because of fears that adding another
> dependency might affect test coverage or create tricky issues. That's
> all comprehensible, so I won't argue, even though some sorely comments
> tempt me.
>
> I had another shot at trying to understand module.c, but there's just
> too much of it and I fail to get the greater picture. The "64 million
> dollar question" remains unanswered: Does the module stuff have to do
> anything more than translate between a gfc_symtree and a file?
>
> One of Jerry's comments is particularly good food for thought, I think:
>> Why does the module file need to be expressive?  Fortran source is already as expressive as is needed. No need to create a new programming language.
>
> Very true! This got me thinking why module files aren't just
> (annotated, stripped-down, whatever) Fortran source code files? When
> the current s-expr format is actually less concise than the source,
> what is the point?

I hope others will chime in on this question. I was having the same thought.  I 
assume the current format is done for speed of compilation.  Are there other 
reasons?

> Anyway, I guess the consensus to stick with the current format is
> pretty strong, so I'll search for easier pickings, when I find time -
> the current incarnation of module.c is just too hard for me.
>

It does take a while to understand the gfortran sources.  I don't think any of 
us understand all of it.  I started out with some small things and worked my way 
up to some pretty sizeable patches.  (Admittedly I have tapered off a bit 
lately, but I keep my fingers in it.)  Any contribution is greatly appreciated, 
so please persevere.

Cheers,

Jerry