Will D ever get a reference type?

[BCS]

Reply to Bill,

> BCS wrote:
> 
>> Reply to Bill,
>> 
>>> Will D ever get a reference type?
>>> 
>>> I don't think pointers are really sufficient.
>>> The handy 'foo.bar' == '(*foo).bar' attribute access is nice, but it
>>> doesn't allow you to really manipulate values and pointers to values
>>> interchangeably.
>>> For instance, if I have an int pointer, x,  I can't do  (12 + x * 2)
>>> and
>>> get integer math.  I get pointer math (if not an error).
>>> --bb
>> is the ref argument type more along the lines you are looking for?
>> 
>> void Foo(ref int a)
>> 
>> I know this is limited to arguments but other than that...
>> 
> Yep, exactly like in the argument,

<Nods>

> but something that's return-able as
> well.
> 

that's worth thinking about the effects of

> --bb
>