compile-time regex redux

[kris]

Walter Bright wrote:
> Walter Bright wrote:
> 
>> kris wrote:
>>
>>> Surely some of the others long-term concerns, such as solid debugging 
>>> support, simmering code/dataseg bloat, lib support for templates, 
>>> etc, etc, should deserve full attention instead? Surely that is a 
>>> more successful approach to getting D adopted in the marketplace?
>>
>>
>> Those are all extremely important, too.
> 
> 
> I wish to add that if you look at the changelog, the bread and butter 
> issues (see the list of bugs fixed) get a solid share of attention.

Yes, you're quite right, and I hope there was no impression given to the 
contrary.

The concern for many of us is purely about D getting mainstream 
traction. That's why we keep harping on about things that matter to the 
majority of developers :)

I hate to say this (because it's somewhat tricky) but I suppose it's 
perhaps a question of priorities? Are compile-time features so much more 
important than things that limit adoption of D as it is today?

D is already /jam-packed/ with features. Some of the existing ones are 
broken, and have been for a long time. Some of them hinder adoption. If 
you were a potential D user, what what you prefer to see happen?

Far be it from me, or any of us, to dictate priority; but you surely 
have to see that mass adoption of D ain't gonna happen because of exotic 
compile-time features, when run-of-the-mill issues are prevalent?

- Kris