Iterators for D

[Sean Kelly]

Bill Baxter wrote:
> Sean Kelly wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Would it be nicer to just use a .value property instead?
>>>>
>>>> foreach(i; foo)
>>>> {
>>>>     auto x = i.value;
>>>>     i.value = x + 1;
>>>> } 
>>>
>>> The problem is if the iterator is an actual pointer, there is no 
>>> .value property for a pointer.
> 
> Well, they could.  It's up to Mr. Compiler Writer if a pointer has a 
> value property or not.
> 
>> Is there really any reason to support pointers as iterators though?  
>> C++ libraries even seem to be moving away from that towards more 
>> robust and less error-prone iterator objects.
> 
> Agreed.  I don't think I've ever actually used a raw pointer with a 
> fancy STL algorithm.  I was actually really surprised the first time I 
> saw it in the examples on the SGI STL page.  Other than those examples, 
> I've never seen it in real code.

I've used it a few times, but generally more when I'm throwing together 
a quick test than writing actual production code.  But since D arrays 
aren't the same as C++ arrays and we have the option of getting a robust 
object back (via a.begin() or whatever), why not take it?


Sean