Thread overview
Development of language specification (was typedef alive and well?)
Nov 04, 2011
Martin Nowak
Nov 04, 2011
deadalnix
November 04, 2011
Moved to an extra thread, so it won't get lost.

I propose the following process using the language specifications at github:d-programming-language.org.

- The language specifications are made version specific (e.g. 2.6, partly handled by tags already).

- Branches are created for the next 2(?) minor versions ahead of the current release cycle.
  Another one is created for the next major version.

- The website should have links to specifications for different versions
  which are build from the corresponding tags/branches.

- We adopt a pull based development for the language specification similar
  to that for phobos (review queue, review manager, voting).

- Specs are lined with acceptance tests. Ideally this would be the code examples.

- The compiler strives to fulfill the specs on corresponding versions.

- Specs are added to the autotester.

Not sure if github:d-programming-language.org can handle all this appropriately,
but it seems worth a try.


As a first test case someone could salvage the abbreviated delegate syntax (a => a+2).

martin
November 04, 2011
Le 04/11/2011 17:10, Martin Nowak a écrit :
> Moved to an extra thread, so it won't get lost.
>
> I propose the following process using the language specifications at
> github:d-programming-language.org.
>
> - The language specifications are made version specific (e.g. 2.6,
> partly handled by tags already).
>
> - Branches are created for the next 2(?) minor versions ahead of the
> current release cycle.
> Another one is created for the next major version.
>
> - The website should have links to specifications for different versions
> which are build from the corresponding tags/branches.
>
> - We adopt a pull based development for the language specification similar
> to that for phobos (review queue, review manager, voting).
>
> - Specs are lined with acceptance tests. Ideally this would be the code
> examples.
>
> - The compiler strives to fulfill the specs on corresponding versions.
>
> - Specs are added to the autotester.
>
> Not sure if github:d-programming-language.org can handle all this
> appropriately,
> but it seems worth a try.
>
>
> As a first test case someone could salvage the abbreviated delegate
> syntax (a => a+2).
>
> martin

I would love that ! And I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one. D definitively needs more specs.
November 04, 2011
On 04-11-2011 17:10, Martin Nowak wrote:
> Moved to an extra thread, so it won't get lost.
>
> I propose the following process using the language specifications at
> github:d-programming-language.org.
>
> - The language specifications are made version specific (e.g. 2.6,
> partly handled by tags already).
>
> - Branches are created for the next 2(?) minor versions ahead of the
> current release cycle.
> Another one is created for the next major version.
>
> - The website should have links to specifications for different versions
> which are build from the corresponding tags/branches.
>
> - We adopt a pull based development for the language specification similar
> to that for phobos (review queue, review manager, voting).
>
> - Specs are lined with acceptance tests. Ideally this would be the code
> examples.
>
> - The compiler strives to fulfill the specs on corresponding versions.
>
> - Specs are added to the autotester.
>
> Not sure if github:d-programming-language.org can handle all this
> appropriately,
> but it seems worth a try.
>
>
> As a first test case someone could salvage the abbreviated delegate
> syntax (a => a+2).
>
> martin

I hate to sound like a troll, but what we have right now hardly qualifies as a language reference. A *real* specification would be much more complicated and in-depth. I *do* think we need to develop a better, more formal specification, but this will obviously require efforts from all the people involved in the development and evolution of D.

- Alex