D2 toStringz Return Type

[Steven Schveighoffer]

"Andrei Alexandrescu" wrote
> Mike Parker wrote:
>> I'm curious as to why toStringz in D2 returns const(char)* instead of 
>> just a plain char*. Considering that the primary use case foe the 
>> function is interfacing with C code, it seems rather pointless to return 
>> a const(char)*.
>
> We want to leave the opportunity open to not duplicate the actual memory 
> underneath the string object. (Right now that opportunity is not 
> effected.)

My recommendation -- have 2 functions.  One which always copies (and returns 
char *), and one which does not.

This at least leaves a safe alternative for people who have headers that 
aren't properly constified, and don't want to go through the hassle of 
looking it up themselves.  Also good for those C functions which actually 
require a mutable char *, since D2 strings are mostly invariant.

-Steve