[Issue 8381] New: Uniform function call syntax (pseudo member) enhancement suggestions

[d-bugmail at puremagic.com]

http://d.puremagic.com/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=8381

           Summary: Uniform function call syntax (pseudo member)
                    enhancement suggestions
           Product: D
           Version: unspecified
          Platform: All
        OS/Version: All
            Status: NEW
          Severity: enhancement
          Priority: P2
         Component: DMD
        AssignedTo: nobody at puremagic.com
        ReportedBy: tommitissari at hotmail.com


--- Comment #0 from Tommi <tommitissari at hotmail.com> 2012-07-12 01:54:22 PDT ---
As I see it, the goal of uniform function call syntax, as 
described here http://www.drdobbs.com/blogs/cpp/232700394, is to 
allow non-intrusively extending the functionality of a type. I 
think the current implementation falls short in accomplishing 
this goal on two accounts:

1) You can't non-intrusively add static member functions
2) You can't non-intrusively add constructors

So, I'm suggesting these two features to be added to the language:

1. Static members as free functions
------------------------------------
    If function invocations like the following are encountered...

    A) Type.func(<ARGUMENTS>);
    B) Type.func; // it's a static @property function

    ...and those functions haven't been implemented as members,
    the function invocations get lowered into:

    A) func!Type(<ARGUMENTS>);
    B) func!Type;

    For example:
    enum Fruit {apple, orange}

    // CODE               // LOWERED CODE
    Fruit.letEmRot();     // .letEmRot!Fruit();
    if (Fruit.isEatable)  // if (.isEatable!Fruit)
    {
      Fruit myfruit;
      myfruit.split(3);   // .split!Fruit(3); // only if it can't
                                              // be lowered into:
                                              // .split(myfruit, 3)
    }

2. Class & struct constructors as free functions
-------------------------------------------------
    If a constructor call hasn't been implemented by Type...

    auto t = Type(<ARGUMENTS>);

    ...then it get's lowered into a free function call...

    auto t = .make!Type(<ARGUMENTS>);

    For example:
    enum Fruit {apple, orange}

    // CODE                 // LOWERED CODE
    auto f = Fruit("red");  // auto f = .make!Fruit("red");

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