Advantages of using TDRP
-
Self-documenting. All parameter documentation is done in the paramdef
file, therefore the documentation and code are co-located, making it
easy to keep the documentation up-to-date.
-
Automatic generation of a default parameter file. Use of the
-print_params
feature allows the new user to generate a
default parameter file. The documentation included in the file helps
the new user to understand the use of the program and customize the
parameters. Users find this one of the most useful aspects of the
system.
-
Checking of parameters which have not been set by the user. Use of the
-check_params
feature allows the user to check which
parameters have not been explicitly set.
-
Simple default behavior. If no parameter file is used, the default
parameter values are used.
-
Support for environment variables in the parameter files. Use of
environment variables along with parameters provides a powerful
combination for maintaining simplicity while porting applications from
one environment to another.
-
Automatic range checking of numeric variables. If the
p_min
and p_max
features are set, the
range of the user's parameters are checked to ensure they lie
within the specified range.
-
Allows a simple transition from development to deployment. The use of
the
p_private
feature allows the programmer to lock
parameters at their default values without changing any code. The
programmer has the advantages of parameter settings during development
while being assured that they will not be set to invalid values after
deployment.
-
Simple and robust. Completely implemented in C therfore no fancy
compilers or libraries are required.
-
Explicit support for both C and C++. Support for most native C
variable types.
-
Minimal coding required. Most work is done in the the paramdef file.