Thread overview
[Issue 11150] New: Allow aliasing of an aggregate template instance
Sep 30, 2013
Andrej Mitrovic
Oct 01, 2013
Andrej Mitrovic
September 30, 2013
http://d.puremagic.com/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=11150

           Summary: Allow aliasing of an aggregate template instance
           Product: D
           Version: D2
          Platform: All
        OS/Version: All
            Status: NEW
          Severity: enhancement
          Priority: P2
         Component: DMD
        AssignedTo: nobody@puremagic.com
        ReportedBy: andrej.mitrovich@gmail.com


--- Comment #0 from Andrej Mitrovic <andrej.mitrovich@gmail.com> 2013-09-30 15:26:34 PDT ---
-----
struct S
{
    T getData(T)() { return T.init; }
}

alias getInt = S.getData!int;

void main()
{
    auto s = S();
    int x = getInt();    // error: need 'this' (expected error)
    int y = s.getInt();  // error: not callable with S (hmm...)
}
-----

Currently it's not possible to easily create an alias of an aggregate template, forcing the user to always explicitly instantiate such a template at the call site.

The workaround is to use a helper UFCS template that forwards to an internal template:

-----
// workaround
T getData(T)(S s) { return s.getDataImpl!T(); }

struct S
{
    T getDataImpl(T)() { return T.init; }
}

alias getInt = getData!int;

void main()
{
    auto s = S();
    int x = s.getInt();  // ok
    // int y = getInt(); // errors, as it should
}
-----

But it would be much simpler if we could use the alias syntax for this.

Since this might be a big enhancement it could use a forum discussion and maybe a DIP.

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monarchdodra@gmail.com changed:

           What    |Removed                     |Added
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 CC|                            |monarchdodra@gmail.com


--- Comment #1 from monarchdodra@gmail.com 2013-10-01 00:33:59 PDT ---
(In reply to comment #0)
> Currently it's not possible to easily create an alias of an aggregate template,

I'm not sure this has anything to do with templates?

//----
struct S
{
   int getData() { return int.init; }
}

alias getInt = S.getData;

void main()
{
   auto s = S();
   int x = getInt();    // error: need 'this' (expected error)
   int y = s.getInt();  // error: not callable with S (hmm...)
}
//----

Same result.

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http://d.puremagic.com/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=11150



--- Comment #2 from Andrej Mitrovic <andrej.mitrovich@gmail.com> 2013-10-01 04:06:44 PDT ---
(In reply to comment #1)
> (In reply to comment #0)
> > Currently it's not possible to easily create an alias of an aggregate template,
> 
> I'm not sure this has anything to do with templates?

Maybe a more generalized term like external member aliasing would be the actual feature. Then template support becomes automatic.

If it were allowed then API writers wouldn't have to worry too much about adding convenience member aliases, since the users can do it themselves.

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