If a procedure is to be generic, i.e. reusable for a variety of data representations, it must make minimal assumptions about its data:

Any assumption in a generic procedure becomes a requirement when the procedure is reused.

• The language syntax must not reflect the form of data.

• The generic procedure must not make assumptions about whether data is stored or computed.

• The generic procedure must not make assumptions about numeric type ( e.g. real or integer) or units of measurement.

• There must be structure-independent ways to write and create data, as well as to read it.

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