Reddit: why aren't people using D?

[Steven Schveighoffer]

On Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:16:59 -0400, Andrei Alexandrescu  
<SeeWebsiteForEmail at erdani.org> wrote:

> Steven Schveighoffer wrote:
>> On Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:54:00 -0400, Andrei Alexandrescu  
>> <SeeWebsiteForEmail at erdani.org> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>> That's why properties are not
>>>> functions.
>>>
>>> This post had a negative effect on me: I now think properties are  
>>> functions even more than before.
>>  Let me bring you back to the issue at hand:
>>  writefln = "hi";
>>  :)
>
> That wart must be eliminated. But the shortcomings of the current design  
> are not a proof that we need a specialized facility for what is at the  
> end of the day nothing but a notational convenience.

I personally am OK with any solution that allows me to specify that a  
function is actually a property, thereby restricting the compiler from  
allowing assignment calls with normal functions.

The most straightforward solution I can think of is marking a function  
with a keyword, i.e.:

property int x() {return _x;}
property void x(int n) {_x = n;}

The other syntax suggestions provide different added bonuses, but I think  
all of those bonuses are not as critical as code working as expected.

For example:

- implied hidden storage
- documenting property getters/setters as one entity
- being able to execute a getter during a debug session.

-Steve