From: Deane Yang (deane_yang_at_[hidden])
Date: 2005-10-20 12:58:50
Matt Calabrese wrote:
(discussion about implicit versus explicit conversion of units omitted)
It could be just me, but I'd like to be at least warned if I manage to
write code that contained
quantity_in_inches + quantity_in_meters
or even
quantity_in_millimeters - quantity_in_kilometers
Both to me are signs that something went wrong.
And if I recall correctly that was the problem with some space mission
that went wrong. I just don't think implicit conversion of units would
have been the right fix for that problem.
Is it really sometimes necessary or desirable to write computation code
that mixes different units for the same dimension? Is anyone patient and
indulgent enough to explain to this naive mathematician why?