Read-only array reference

[Sean Kelly]

kris wrote:
> Hasan Aljudy wrote:
> [snip]
>> Then how about introducing a new type: read-only array reference.
>> (The idea is inspired by Java's immutable string class)
>>
>> It would be a distinct type, but built into the language core.
>> It has a different declaration syntax from regular arrays.
>> It cannot be casted to anything at all, absolutly no pointer 
>> manipulation is allowed either.
>> The content of the array cannot be modified (further explanation below).
>> The reference itself *can* be modified to refer to another array, but 
>> it would still be a read-only reference.
>> Any type of regular array reference (dynamic/static/associative) can 
>> be converted to a read-only array reference.
> 
> Having a true set of readonly array[] types would certainly resolve all 
> such issues that I've personally encountered with D, although some might 
> balk at having another set of TypeInfo? On the other hand, that may be 
> wholly preferable to implementing a type-modifier instead?
> 
> It is also fully backward compatible ;)
> 
> [snip other good stuff]
> 
> Really don't think any special-cases are required here ~ if a readonly 
> array, of any type, is used as an lValue in any manner, it is a 
> compile-time error. Simple, neat, easy to understand.

A ReadOnly array would still need to access the contents of a standard 
array for this to be useful, so it couldn't be completely excluded from 
evaluation as an lvalue--initializations would be exempt.


Sean