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- Newsgroups: comp.lang.c++
- Path: sparky!uunet!darwin.sura.net!mips!mips!munnari.oz.au!metro!extro.ucc.su.OZ.AU!maxtal
- From: maxtal@extro.ucc.su.OZ.AU (John MAX Skaller)
- Subject: Re: Handling of operator . proposal
- Message-ID: <1992Jul25.175544.25731@ucc.su.OZ.AU>
- Sender: news@ucc.su.OZ.AU
- Nntp-Posting-Host: extro.ucc.su.oz.au
- Organization: MAXTAL P/L C/- University Computing Centre, Sydney
- References: <Bqs38H.4L9@taligent.com> <1070008@speedy.CND.HP.COM>
- Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1992 17:55:44 GMT
- Lines: 41
-
- In article <1070008@speedy.CND.HP.COM> dds@speedy.CND.HP.COM (Darren Smith) writes:
- >
- >The argument that operator.() is only a syntactic operation is
- >essentially a meaningless, though true, statement. The question is:
- >is there a good reason that it should remain so? That is the issue
- >that should be addressed when you say it's not a runtime operation.
- >What problems are caused by it having the possibility of being a runtime
- >operation? Are they solvable?
-
- NO problems CAN be caused by operator.() in a class that
- doesn't define operator.(), so no existing program is broken.
-
- There is a more important question.
-
- Operator.() is proposed in part for symmetry, and in part
- to provide smart references.
-
- If there is another way to provide smart references that
- is better does this EXCLUDE operator.()?
-
- Or should be allow BOTH idioms?
-
- Or should we provide operator.() for symmetry ANYWAY,
- and do it NOW because its specification and impact is
- clear and because it is a simplification rather
- than an extension :-)
-
- Now I would ask all compiler implementors to provide
- an 'experimental options' switch which when enabled allows
- experimental options to be tested.
-
- And to provide opertor.() as one of those options. Please.
- Lets FIND OUT about operator.() by USE not talk.
- Then if it works well, we have prior art,
- and if it doesn't we have prior art 'decco' :-)
-
- --
- ;----------------------------------------------------------------------
- JOHN (MAX) SKALLER, maxtal@extro.ucc.su.oz.au
- Maxtal Pty Ltd, 6 MacKay St ASHFIELD, NSW 2131, AUSTRALIA
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