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Rosetta Code task Proper divisors fails to compile

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Kenneth Wolcott

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Jul 26, 2023, 12:49:52 AM7/26/23
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Hi;

Trying to understand (and use) a Rosetta Code task (Proper divisors)...

https://rosettacode.org/wiki/Proper_divisors#Ada

it fails to compile

gnatmake -vh ./proper_divisors.adb

GNATMAKE 13.1.0
Copyright (C) 1992-2023, Free Software Foundation, Inc.
"proper_divisors.ali" being checked ...
-> "proper_divisors.ali" missing.
gcc -c -I./ -I- ./proper_divisors.adb
generic_divisors.ads:11:08: error: (Ada 2005) cannot copy object of a limited type (RM-2005 6.5(5.5/2))
generic_divisors.ads:11:08: error: return by reference not permitted in Ada 2005
End of compilation
gnatmake: "./proper_divisors.adb" compilation error

Why does this work for the the submitter of the Rosetta Code task and not for me?

Thanks,
Ken Wolcott

Jeffrey R.Carter

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Jul 26, 2023, 4:36:15 AM7/26/23
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On 2023-07-26 06:49, Kenneth Wolcott wrote:
>
> https://rosettacode.org/wiki/Proper_divisors#Ada
>
> gnatmake -vh ./proper_divisors.adb
>
> generic_divisors.ads:11:08: error: (Ada 2005) cannot copy object of a limited type (RM-2005 6.5(5.5/2))
> generic_divisors.ads:11:08: error: return by reference not permitted in Ada 2005
>
> Why does this work for the the submitter of the Rosetta Code task and not for me?

For some reason your gnatmake seems to be defaulting to -gnat05 mode. This code
has an expression function, which is Ada 12, so try adding -gnat12 to the command.

You also should not need to put "./" in front of the file name, though I don't
see how that would make a difference.

--
Jeff Carter
"I'm a lumberjack and I'm OK."
Monty Python's Flying Circus
54

Kenneth Wolcott

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Jul 26, 2023, 2:30:14 PM7/26/23
to
On Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 1:36:15 AM UTC-7, Jeffrey R.Carter wrote:
> For some reason your gnatmake seems to be defaulting to -gnat05 mode. This code
> has an expression function, which is Ada 12, so try adding -gnat12 to the command.
>
> You also should not need to put "./" in front of the file name, though I don't
> see how that would make a difference.

Hi Jeff;

Thank you for your suggestion. Doesn't seem to have any effect.

(*SIGH*)

gnatmake -vh -gnat2012 proper_divisors.adb

GNATMAKE 13.1.0
Copyright (C) 1992-2023, Free Software Foundation, Inc.
"proper_divisors.ali" being checked ...
-> "proper_divisors.ali" missing.
gcc -c -gnat2012 proper_divisors.adb
generic_divisors.ads:11:08: error: (Ada 2005) cannot copy object of a limited type (RM-2005 6.5(5.5/2))
generic_divisors.ads:11:08: error: return by reference not permitted in Ada 2005
End of compilation
gnatmake: "proper_divisors.adb" compilation error

Ken

Jeffrey R.Carter

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Jul 26, 2023, 3:57:40 PM7/26/23
to
On 2023-07-26 20:30, Kenneth Wolcott wrote:
>
> Thank you for your suggestion. Doesn't seem to have any effect.

Interesting. I get the same results with GNAT 12.

Looking more closely at the code, I think the error, while its msg is
misleading, is correct. A function that returns a limited type can only return
an aggregate, a function call, or an object declared by an extended return
statement. The generic formal object None is none of these.

Changing the generic parameter to a function

with function None return Result_Type;

makes the code correct. You need to change the definition of Empty in
Proper_Divisors

function Empty return Pos_Arr is (1 .. 0 => <>);

and create a function to supply for the 2nd instantiation

function None return Natural is (0);
...
package Divisor_Count is new Generic_Divisors
(Result_Type => Natural, None => None, One => Cnt, Add => "+");

and then it compiles and runs.

Another possibility is to make Result_Type simply private, though that is
slightly less general. That may be how the OP got the code to compile and run.
It might be that limited was added later because the OP saw that it could be,
and never tested the change.

Kenneth Wolcott

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Jul 26, 2023, 6:26:30 PM7/26/23
to
Hi Jeff;

Thank you for your reply.

I went with the latter suggestion for my local use.

Ken
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