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| Posted by foobar | PermalinkReply |
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foobar
| Jonathan M Davis Wrote:
> On Wednesday, December 01, 2010 14:32:12 bearophile wrote:
> > foobar:
> > > 1. static_cast:
> > > a. Remove ALL implicit coercions inherited from c such as double ->
> > > int, b. I don't see the need for an operator for conversions since
> > > they can have different parameters, e.g.: - converting to string can
> > > have formatting specified
> > > - converting string to numeric types with optional base parameter
> > > - converting integer to floating point specifies
> > > round/floor/ceiling/etc..
> > >
> > > 2. const_cast: should be a _separate_ operator in order to prevent removing const by mistake.
> > >
> > > const Base obj1 = new Derived();
> > > auto obj2 = cast(Derived)(obj1); // oops: meant to only down cast
> > >
> > > 3. dynamic_cast: the language should provide a down cast operator for OO. 4. reinterpret_cast: unsafe and should be restricted as much as possible (Not available in @safe code) maybe not provide it at all since it's implementable via union. A restricted library solution for when you really want to play with bits and bytes?
> >
> > There are some ideas here, like the separation from const_cast, dynamic cast, and other casts. In past I too have asked for something similar, but I think Walter was not interested.
> >
> > I guess the idea of having a single cast is to keep the language simple. But those _are_ different kinds of casts, they have different semantics. Lumping different semantics into the same syntax is not a good way to simplify a language, in my opinion. It just creates obscurity and maybe some other troubles too.
>
> And how many programmers do you know who actually, really know the differences between the 4 C++ cast types. _I_'m not sure that _I_ know, and I've studied it. And honestly, in most cases - if not in _all_ cases - as far as I can tell, the compiler should be able to determine the correct cast type. So, forcing that on the programmer is just stupid. If you actually _need_ separate cast types, then we should have them, but if we can avoid that, we definitely should. I think that the fact that C++ has so many types of casts is horrible. I try and use them correctly, but I don't think that there are very many programmers (percentage- wise at least) who do. I know plenty of programmers who just use C-style casts everywhere.
>
> - Jonathan M Davis
My suggestion is much simpler than c++. the _language_ needs only to provide two operators: down cast operator and const cast operator. interpret cast is a corner case that can also be implemented as a library utility. conversions can and should be done with regular D code (functions). which is not far from current D idioms (to!).
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