std.algorithm.remove and principle of least astonishment

[Andrei Alexandrescu]

On 11/19/10 12:59 PM, Bruno Medeiros wrote:
> On 16/10/2010 20:51, Andrei Alexandrescu wrote:
>> On 10/16/2010 01:39 PM, Steven Schveighoffer wrote:
>>> I suggest wrapping a char[] or wchar[] (of all constancies) with a
>>> special range that imposes the restrictions.
>>
>> I did so. It was called byDchar and it would accept a string type. It
>> sucked.
>>
>> char[] and wchar[] are special. They embed their UTF affiliation in
>> their type. I don't think we should make a wash of all that by handling
>> them as arrays. They are not arrays.
>>
>>
>> Andrei
>
> "They are not arrays."? So why are they arrays then? :3
>
> Sorry, what I mean is: so we agree that char[] and wchar[] are special.
> Unlike *all other arrays*, there are restrictions to what you can assign
> to each element of the array. So conceptually they are not arrays, but
> in the type system they are very much arrays. (or described
> alternatively: implemented with arrays).
>
> Isn't this a clear sign that what currently is char[] and wchar[] (=
> UTF-8 and UTF-16 encoded strings) should not be arrays, but instead a
> struct which would correctly represents the semantics and contracts of
> char[] and wchar[]? Let me clarify what I'm suggesting:
> * char[] and wchar[] would be just arrays of char's and wchar's,
> completely orthogonal with other arrays types, no restrictions on
> assignment, no further contracts.
> * UTF-8 and UTF-16 encoded strings would have their own struct-based
> type, lets called them string and wstring, which would likely use char[]
> and wchar[] as the contents (but these fields would be internal), and
> have whatever methods be appropriate, including opIndex.
> * string literals would be of type string and wstring, not char[] and
> wchar[].
> * for consistency, probably this would be true for UTF-32 as well: we
> would have a dstring, with dchar[] as the contents.
>
> Problem solved. You're welcome. (as John Hodgeman would say)
>
> No?

I don't think that would mark an improvement.

Andrei