Instance variables with @ (was: Re: why ; ?)

[Michael Neumann]

Nick Sabalausky wrote:
 > // Note: untested
 > class A {
 >   int i=0;
 >
 >   void foo() {
 >     // Accidentially clobbers "this.i" aka "@i"
 >     for(i=0; i<77; i++)
 >       {/* Do stuff */}
 >   }
 >
 >   invariant() {
 >     assert(this.i==0); // Fails after foo() is called
 >   }
 > }
 >
 > I still like the @ thing, though.

Very good example!

A solution could be to force the programmer to use the "this." notation
or at least issuing a compiler warning if not done.  The latter could be
implemented in the compiler without any changes to the syntax/language.

The next step would be to have "@" as a synonym for "this.", as typing
"this." all the time is either annoying and as such is ignored or leads
to less readable code (IMHO).

Regards,

   Michael