Pointers

[Chris Nicholson-Sauls]

Eugene Y. wrote:
> class C
> {
> }
> 
> If I declare an instance of class C
> 
> C cinstance = new C();
> 
> is cinstance a pointer or is it like C++?
> I'm wondering this because I tested with DMD 2.008 and if I do this

It is a reference.  I'm not sure off the top of my head whether its a 
direct pointer or a handle under the hood, but at any rate, its a 
pointer to something.

> C dinstance = cinstance;
> 
> it doesn't seem to copy by value but by reference just like copying pointers
> in C/C++.

Correct, it only copies the reference/pointer.

> If this is the case, is there any point in having pointers to Classes?

Not in the common case, no, but it can be useful at times.  (Although, 
most of the cases where I would use them involve parameter passing, so I 
just use 'ref' arguments.)

-- Chris Nicholson-Sauls