poll for properties

[Adam D. Ruppe]

On Tue, Jul 28, 2009 at 06:19:53PM -0400, Steven Schveighoffer wrote:
>   else
>     b.yyy;
> }
> 
> Assuming you have no idea what type Box is, what of the following options  
> looks most natural for xxx in order to test to see if b has an element in  
> it?
> 
> a) if(b.empty)
> b) if(b.empty())

Both of those look equally fine. My top preference would probably be:

e) if(b.isEmpty)

though.

> c) b.clear;

This one. You are just ordering it to be cleared out.

> Which of the following functions looks incorrect?

> void c(Box box)
> {
>     if(box.clear)
>        box.fill(5);
>     else
>        box.empty;
> }

This looks weirdest, since I'm assuming clear clears it out.


>     if(box.clear())
>        box.fill(5);
>     else
>        box.empty();
> }

Not in love with that either, but it isn't as bad.

> Now knowing what the actual meaning of clear and empty are, indicate which  
> version(s) of the function in the previous question would surprise you if  
> it compiled.

None of them. Maybe it is just because I've been using D as my main language
for long enough already that I don't see the difference between 

x;

and x();

(After all, "x;" is just stupid to write if it is a variable or property, since
it doesn't do anything, so logically, it must be a function.)

> Do you think the meaning of a symbol with parentheses suggests something  
> different than that same symbol without parentheses for the following  
> symbols:

None.


-- 
Adam D. Ruppe
http://arsdnet.net