Auto Boxing/unBoxing can make the type system complete. It can make some
common cases easy/simple without making others ugly('cause we have
template:). Well, it may cause some performance problems, but i think we can
avoid these by using template. Template can do most of auto boxing/unboxing
do, but look at the example below:
// in c#, we can declare a function take arbitrary parameters like this
public class Console
{
    public static void Write(string fmt, params object[] args);
}

i think all of you can under what these codes mean, it's handy. Can we use template to archieve this in a splitted type system?

Waiting for your advices:)

"uframer" <uframer@sina100.com> wrote in message news:cr7njl$18j3$1@digitaldaemon.com...
> Auto Boxing/unBoxing can make the type system complete. It can make some common cases easy/simple without making others ugly('cause we have template:). Well, it may cause some performance problems, but i think we
can
> avoid these by using template. Template can do most of auto
boxing/unboxing
> do, but look at the example below:
> // in c#, we can declare a function take arbitrary parameters like this
> public class Console
> {
>     public static void Write(string fmt, params object[] args);
> }
>
> i think all of you can under what these codes mean, it's handy. Can we use template to archieve this in a splitted type system?
>
> Waiting for your advices:)

Autoboxing/unboxing are necessary features for a template system that does not support partial or explicit specialization. Since D does, the boxing support doesn't add critical value. I've always been a bit uncomfortable with it anyway from an efficiency standpoint. (Also, D has another way of doing typesafe variable argument lists.)

uframer wrote:
> Auto Boxing/unBoxing can make the type system complete. It can make some
> common cases easy/simple without making others ugly('cause we have
> template:). Well, it may cause some performance problems, but i think we can
> avoid these by using template. Template can do most of auto boxing/unboxing
> do, but look at the example below:
> // in c#, we can declare a function take arbitrary parameters like this
> public class Console
> {
>     public static void Write(string fmt, params object[] args);
> }
> 
> i think all of you can under what these codes mean, it's handy. Can we use
> template to archieve this in a splitted type system?
> 
> Waiting for your advices:)
> 
> 

The D Template Library (dtl, by Matthew Wilson, somewhat outdated ATM) provides std.box, but I can't guarantee you it'll work with the most recent DMD.
The Apropos Library (by Andy Friesen, also outdated) also provides a boxing/unboxing feature. Again, I can't guarantee anything.

Also, for "a function to take arbitrary parameters" (as you put it), you can use a variadic funtion.

_______________________
Carlos Santander Bernal