refInt = ref int: how to achieve this? or is this a bug?

[Steven Schveighoffer]

On 6/17/20 4:38 PM, mw wrote:
> ----------------
> import std.stdio;
> 
> alias refInt = ref int;
> 
> void f(refInt i) {
>    i = 456;
> }
> 
> void main() {
>    int i = 123;
>    writeln(i);
>    f(i);
>    writeln(i);
> }
> ----------------
> 
> $ $DMD/windows/bin64/rdmd.exe reft.d
> 123
> 123
> 
> $ $LDC/bin/rdmd  reft.d
> 123
> 123
> 
> How to achieve this typdef/alias that what I want?

It's not possible in this way. ref is a storage class and not part of 
the type.

Essentially, your alias statement becomes:

alias refInt = int;

Which in itself is somewhat of a "feature", as storage classes that do 
not apply are ignored. Some may consider it a bug, but I haven't seen 
anyone attempt something like what you have, it sure seems like the 
compiler should complain.

-Steve