QVT13 — QVTr: Variable Initialization

QVTr does not allow variables to be initialized at the point of declaration. This is a rather prehistoric limitation that significantly degrades readability.

a) it requires separate declaration and assignment lines
b) it inhibits inference of the variable type from the initializer
c) it obfuscates the variable assignment

The latter is a particular problem in QVTr where the assignment may a consequence of a pattern match;

Suggest allowing an initializer on a VarDeclarationCS and allowing the type to be inferred from the initializer.

QVTr Variable Initialization

QVTr does not allow variables to be initialized at the point of declaration. This is a rather prehistoric limitation that significantly degrades readability.

a) it requires separate declaration and assignment lines
b) it inhibits inference of the variable type from the initializer
c) it obfuscates the variable assignment

The latter is a particular problem in QVTr where the assignment may a consequence of a pattern match;

Suggest allowing an initializer on a VarDeclarationCS and allowing the type to be inferred from the initializer.

Discussion

The underlying Abstract Syntax supports an initializer.

Prototyping in Eclipse QVTr demonstrated a useful reduction in line count and increase in clarity of the RelToCore transformation.