Phobos - breaking existing code

[bearophile via Digitalmars-d]

Walter Bright:

> Thanks! I like pressing existing features into use over 
> inventing new ones :-)

The existing feature to be used is @deprecated, it's more 
self-documenting and it was designed for that purpose. Using that 
special assert is just a workaround. No one was suggesting to 
invent new feature, but to add a string argument to the right 
feature to use.


> Why not?

Because it's ugly, and ugly things usually later manage to find 
ways to give you troubles.


> it's probably a good idea for new modules in Phobos to avoid 
> collisions with old names, even when the old names are removed, 
> so that people are not confused when they try to recompile old 
> projects.

In few (not common) cases it's better to re-use an old name for 
different better purposes.

Bye,
bearophile