Reference to an object disregarding mutation - what's the trick?

[BCS]

Reply to Steve,

> OK, so I'm in a typical tree situation:
> 
> int n = node.parent.nodelist.length;
> node.parent.nodelist.length = n+1;
> // p.s. why can't I say node.parent.nodelist.length++ - doesn't
> work
> // other fluff with node.parent.nodelist
> node.parent.nodelist[n] = x;
> For brevity I want to be able to say:
> Node[] t = node.parent.nodelist;
> int n = t.length;
> t.length = n+1;
> .....
> But as soon as I modify t it becomes a separate object.
> 
> OK, I can use with, but how do I get the semantics I'd get with a
> plain old pointer to the object?
> 

you may be running into the issue that changing an array length can cause 
it to reallocate. I'd have to see more implementation to give you more useful 
information.