Fixing C's Biggest Mistake

[kdevel]

On Monday, 2 January 2023 at 22:54:41 UTC, Walter Bright wrote:
> On 1/1/2023 11:14 AM, kdevel wrote:
>> On Sunday, 1 January 2023 at 18:11:10 UTC, Walter Bright wrote:
>>> (C++ has the same issue.)
>> 
>> How? Quote from https://eel.is/c++draft/dcl.ref:
>> 
>>     [...] A reference shall be initialized to refer to a valid 
>> object or function.
>> 
>>     [Note 2: In particular, a null reference cannot exist in a 
>> well-defined
>>     program, because the only way to create such a reference 
>> would be to bind it
>>     to the “object” obtained by indirection through a null 
>> pointer, which causes
>>     undefined behavior. {...} — end note]
>
> The spec says don't do it.

The C++ standard does not primarily say "don't do this or that" 
but "if you do this or that your code does not form a valid 
program".

> That doesn't stop it from happening,

By definition it does not happen in valid C++ programs. Urge 
programmers to write valid C++ programs and all's right with the 
world!

> though, as the compiler has no way to detect it.

It's like speeding. The guys who deploy road signs are not in 
charge of surveilling the traffic.