There may be a difference in 'the eye if the beholder':
/* REXX */
...is special: it is (obviously) the flag that indicates that this is rexx.
/* This REXX converts ANSI dates to internal format, or whatever. */
...is just a comment line. Anybody can change any comment at any time and it
should not have any impact on the code. For instance:
/* This generic module changes dates in ANSI of ISO-8601 format to the
standard internal format (YYYYMMDD). */
And then wonder why testruns are failing. Code (and intent of code) should be
as obvious and explicit as possible. Burying the REXX flag in a large comment
obfuscates the intent of '/* REXX */'.
That may seem overly anxious if you just work with a small team of experienced
developers. But in larger organization with developers with different levels of
experience and expertise this becomes more and more important.
Fred!
-----Original Message-----
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU> On Behalf Of Bob
Bridges
Sent: dinsdag 28 september 2021 22:54
To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: PL/I vs. JCL
Purely by the way, but I've never really understood why so many REXX modules I
see start like this:
/* REXX */
/* Module: Name
Author: Bob Bridges the Magnificent
Purpose: Convert ANSI dates to internal format, or whatever. */
...instead of something like this:
/* This REXX converts ANSI dates to internal format, or whatever. */
/* Module: Name
Author: Bob Bridges the Magnificent */
I'm sure most REXX coders know the first line doesn't have to be simply "/*
REXX */". Must be just habit, I suppose.
---
Bob Bridges, robhbrid...@gmail.com, cell 336 382-7313
/* Atlanta, Ga. (SatireWire.com, 2001) -- Scientists at the Centers for Disease
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-----Original Message-----
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU> On Behalf Of
Paul Gilmartin
Sent: Monday, September 27, 2021 20:43
A co-worker once supplied some Rexx, all indented one column, presumably to
avoid the "/*" problem. Didn't work under OMVS, which appears to have a
restriction (undocumented) that "/* Rexx ..." begin in col. 1.
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