seeding the pot for 2.0 features [small vectors]

[Chad J]

Bill Baxter wrote:
> Chad J wrote:
> 
>> Bill Baxter wrote:
>>
>>> Mikola Lysenko wrote:
>>>
>>>> Bill Baxter wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Mikola Lysenko wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> 2. Low dimensional vectors as primitive types
>>
>> [...]
> 
> 
>>>
>>>      float[4] v = a*b + c*d;
>>>
>>> you can even make aliases if you like.
>>>
>>>      alias float[4] float4;
>>>
>>> But your 3D graphics library will still need to be a library on top 
>>> of that.
>>
>>
>> Yeah I mentioned static arrays earlier, but I realized that they can 
>> be a bit of a pain in the ass to work with.  This probably means that 
>> static arrays should be fixed, then they could be useful vectors. 
> 
> 
> Agreed.  So basically the D 2.0 wish list item becomes to make float[4] 
> act more like a plain-old-data value type, give it simple math 
> operations, optimize the heck out of it, and make it possible to alias 
> it to float4 for convenience.
> 
> And maybe add the .xyzw accessors and swizzles too. :-)
> 
> I suspect the "optimize the heck out of it" step will be a long time 
> coming though.  Probably more like D 3.0.
> 
> --bb

*sigh* but I want my uber vector operations NOW! :)