An Anti-Big Feature Request

downs default_357-line at yahoo.de
Fri Dec 14 15:27:54 PST 2007


I have an Anti-Big Feature request; that is, a request against new features.

When this const issue will finally be solved to most peoples' satisfaction,
kindly consider inserting a period of consolidation.

No more sudden, game-changing new super features for a while.
Maybe fix some long-standing bugs.
Maybe finally implement the generational GC.
Maybe actually get DbC inheritance to work like it's supposed to.
Maybe give memory back to the OS on occasion.
Maybe revisit some 1.0 concepts and consider if they're still needed.
Maybe add small things everybody can agree are good (return type deduction comes to mind).
Aim for low-hanging fruits, stuff we can agree on for once.
How about a redundancy free import syntax?

D's 2.0 series has been characterized by a series of fundamental changes (const, closures),
but what really makes a new release great is the polish. Small stuff everybody looks forward to.
Clean up the issues with the OMF tools? Maybe even consider switching to PE?
(Heresy, I know; however, it is fact that GDC has no problem with megabyte-long symbol names)

Oh, and please, delay the AST macros for a while. My head is still spinning with closures. :)
 --downs

PS:
  Personal wish list:
    * Struct copy semantics, lazy and ref storage types
    * a way to detect ref in a delegate parameter list
    * Improved compile-time information for enums
    * TRACED EXCEPTIONS ;____; yeah I wish
    * Allow inheriting from superclasses' nested classes

PPS: Representative sentiment from #d:
>
> <fundesktop> a stable, feature complete compiler without bugs and good additional tools
> <fundesktop> SOMETHING WHICH D WILL NEVER GET
>



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