Understanding the methodology of generic data types

Question

I think of a situation when one needs to code a linked list implementation as a generic ADT. Is he supposed to provide within the library printing functions?

Because is we assume that the client will use the linked list with his own created struct than how can the printing method know how to print the data of that struct?

The idea would be to make it so that the ADT can be printed as long as the client's types can. — juanchopanza, Nov 30 '13 at 17:06
There's a generic linked list implementation in the standard library. Are you familiar with it? — n. m. could be an AI, Nov 30 '13 at 17:09
Then you perhaps should ask yourself why that implementation, being an archetypical generic data structure, does not provide any printing functions. — n. m. could be an AI, Nov 30 '13 at 17:41

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 30 '13 at 17:23

0

A list has many inherent abilities. Printing is not one of them. For the sake of purity, I would not implement printing if I were asked to implement a linked list. Seperation of concerns is the guideline here.

On the other hand, the only correct answer is "ask your boss". If you are supposed to code this for someone, ask him. He will know better what he expects than a few random people on the internet.

answered Nov 30 '13 at 17:23

nvoigt

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Thank you. These are just footless thoughts, no actual project is on the line. – Quaker Nov 30 '13 at 17:34

Understanding the methodology of generic data types

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