Hello everyone,

I'm a newcomer to the D language (though not new to programming) and currently reading through the documentation to learn this fascinating new language.

In any case, I was wondering -- does D make use of function prototypes like in C/C++? or are function definitions all that is necessary in D?

I did tried experimenting with the compiler and it appears that the answer to my question is the latter, but wanted to make sure this is indeed the case.

Thanks!

Joscci wrote:
> Hello everyone,
> 
> I'm a newcomer to the D language (though not new to programming) and currently reading through the documentation to learn this fascinating new language.
> 
> In any case, I was wondering -- does D make use of function prototypes like in C/C++? or are function definitions all that is necessary in D?
> 
> I did tried experimenting with the compiler and it appears that the answer to my question is the latter, but wanted to make sure this is indeed the case.

You can use prototypes if the implementation for a function is compiled separately, but you can't prototype a function that is later defined, and you can't provide multiple prototypes for the same function, even if they match exactly.  I've found this last restriction to be somewhat frustrating at times, as I believe it even applies to private prototypes.


Sean

Sean Kelly Wrote:

> Joscci wrote:
> > Hello everyone,
> > 
> > I'm a newcomer to the D language (though not new to programming) and currently reading through the documentation to learn this fascinating new language.
> > 
> > In any case, I was wondering -- does D make use of function prototypes like in C/C++? or are function definitions all that is necessary in D?
> > 
> > I did tried experimenting with the compiler and it appears that the answer to my question is the latter, but wanted to make sure this is indeed the case.
> 
> You can use prototypes if the implementation for a function is compiled separately, but you can't prototype a function that is later defined, and you can't provide multiple prototypes for the same function, even if they match exactly.  I've found this last restriction to be somewhat frustrating at times, as I believe it even applies to private prototypes.
> 
> 
> Sean

Gotcha.   Thanks for the clarification -- and for answering. :o)

- Joscci -

Reply to Joscci,

> Hello everyone,
> 
> I'm a newcomer to the D language (though not new to programming) and
> currently reading through the documentation to learn this fascinating
> new language.
> 
> In any case, I was wondering -- does D make use of function prototypes
> like in C/C++? or are function definitions all that is necessary in D?
> 
> I did tried experimenting with the compiler and it appears that the
> answer to my question is the latter, but wanted to make sure this is
> indeed the case.
> 
> Thanks!
> 

Prototypes can be used, but should only be used where the source is not available (closed source libs or cross language linking).

BCS Wrote:

> Reply to Joscci,
> 
> > Hello everyone,
> > 
> > I'm a newcomer to the D language (though not new to programming) and currently reading through the documentation to learn this fascinating new language.
> > 
> > In any case, I was wondering -- does D make use of function prototypes like in C/C++? or are function definitions all that is necessary in D?
> > 
> > I did tried experimenting with the compiler and it appears that the answer to my question is the latter, but wanted to make sure this is indeed the case.
> > 
> > Thanks!
> > 
> 
> Prototypes can be used, but should only be used where the source is not available (closed source libs or cross language linking).
> 
> 

Sweet.  Thanks for your input. :o)