Warning

[Derek Parnell]

On Fri, 24 Feb 2006 02:48:38 +1100, Georg Wrede <georg.wrede at nospam.org>  
wrote:

> Derek Parnell wrote:
>
>> Sorry, but I forgot something nice. Anonymous structs don't seem to be
>> solving any problem that I've come across, but anonymous unions are very
>> nice.
>>   struct S
>>  {
>>    int type;
>>    union {       int i;       long l;
>>       short s;
>>       real r;
>>       float f;
>>       Foo foo;
>>    }
>>  }
>
> Of course you know, and all regulars here know, but the casual reader  
> has to be warned here.
>
> NEVER MIX VALUE AND REFERENCE types in a union!
>
> While technically it poses no problem, in real life you'll end up  
> shooting yourself in the foot -- faster than it takes to say 'Ouch!'
>
> And if you don't, the later maintainer of your code *will* shoot you.

Sorry, but maybe I should have also mentioned ...

alias char Foo;  <g>

-- 
Derek Parnell
Melbourne, Australia