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Detail Formatter null value [message #1778372]

Wed, 13 December 2017 14:26

Nikita Dümmel

Messages: 19
Registered: September 2017

Junior Member

Hi,

I'm writing a DSL which has "undefined" instead of "null" for null references as it is supposedly better understandable for beginners.
The DSL code is then generated to Java which is executed.
So my problem is that when debugging through my DSL code undefined variables have naturally null values in the variables view in the debugger as seen in the image in the attachment.

Is there a way using the detail formatter to replace null values with "undefined"?

Best regards,
Nikita.

Attachment: variablesview.png
(Size: 12.21KB, Downloaded 81 times)

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Re: Detail Formatter null value [message #1778376 is a reply to message #1778372]

Wed, 13 December 2017 14:54

Ed Willink

Messages: 7655
Registered: July 2009

Senior Member

Hi

Be careful about pandering to beginner's perceived problems; you can easily create new inconsistent terminology problems and just defer acquisition of an understanding.

"undefined" means that no assignment/initialization has occurred AND that an assignment/initialization is required.

"null" means that no assignment/initialization has occurred OR that a deliberate not-a-value is in use.

If you really mean to provide an SSA-like (Static Single Assignment) behaviour with no not-a-value then you do not need to display null at all.

If you have exceptions then it is tempting to categorize these too as "undefined" creating even greater confusion.

Regards

Ed Willink

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Re: Detail Formatter null value [message #1778453 is a reply to message #1778376]

Thu, 14 December 2017 10:35

Nikita Dümmel

Messages: 19
Registered: September 2017

Junior Member

Hi,

thank you for the feedback, that is definately something to think about.
As it is the decision is far from final and must be discussed with colleagues, the points you mentioned will be definately helpful.

Regards,
Nikita.

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Re: Detail Formatter null value [message #1778488 is a reply to message #1778453]

Thu, 14 December 2017 19:30

Stephan Herrmann

Messages: 1853
Registered: July 2009

Senior Member

Quote:

Is there a way using the detail formatter to replace null values with "undefined"?

Have you tried it?
As you mention detail formatters I assume you've seen the preference for Java > Debug > Detail Formatters?

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Re: Detail Formatter null value [message #1778504 is a reply to message #1778488]

Fri, 15 December 2017 09:24

Nikita Dümmel

Messages: 19
Registered: September 2017

Junior Member

Stephan Herrmann wrote on Thu, 14 December 2017 19:30

Quote:
Is there a way using the detail formatter to replace null values with "undefined"?

Have you tried it?
As you mention detail formatters I assume you've seen the preference for Java > Debug > Detail Formatters?

Yes, thanks to Detail Formatter the value of my variables is set to toString representation and I've managed to create a new Detail Formatter for ArrayLists. However I couldn't find a way to create a new detail formatter for null values.

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