translate C struct char array into D

[Tejas]

On Friday, 30 July 2021 at 14:40:17 UTC, Paul Backus wrote:
> On Friday, 30 July 2021 at 14:05:58 UTC, workman wrote:
>> [...]
>
> `char data[]` in the C struct is not a pointer, but actually a 
> [C99 flexible array member][1], and does not count towards the 
> struct's `sizeof`.
>
> D does not have flexible array members, but you can simulate 
> one using a struct method:
>
> ```d
> struct test1 {
>     // member variables...
>
>     char* data() {
>         return cast(char*) (&this + 1);
>     }
> }
> ```
>
> [1]: http://port70.net/~nsz/c/c99/n1256.html#6.7.2.1p16

B-but the performance penalty of having an extra level of 
indirection? Absolutely unacceptable!!