Should this really be allowed?

creal c = 3 + 5i;
double d = c;    // d is now 3

Besides being a lossy conversion, it can make it difficult to write a complex math library, and lead to some silent bugs if there ever comes to BE a library.

For example:
creal exp(creal);
real exp(real);
..
cdouble d = 3 + 4i;
exp(d); // The compiler chokes on this one, so we can't overload names

Another example: If we rename the complex functions (as done in C99) we get
real exp(real);
creal cexp(creal);
..
creal d = 2i;
exp(d); // Typo, should be cexp, but the compiler accepts and exp returns the
wrong answer.

Nick

"Nick" <Nick_member@pathlink.com> wrote in message news:cejsno$2g2s$1@digitaldaemon.com...
> Should this really be allowed?
>
> creal c = 3 + 5i;
> double d = c;    // d is now 3
>
> Besides being a lossy conversion, it can make it difficult to write a complex math library, and lead to some silent bugs if there ever comes to BE a library.

Should require explicit cast  IMO

>
> For example:
> creal exp(creal);
> real exp(real);
> ..
> cdouble d = 3 + 4i;
> exp(d); // The compiler chokes on this one, so we can't overload names
>
> Another example: If we rename the complex functions (as done in C99) we get
> real exp(real);
> creal cexp(creal);
> ..
> creal d = 2i;
> exp(d); // Typo, should be cexp, but the compiler accepts and exp returns the
> wrong answer.
>
> Nick
>
>