The demise of T[new]

[Andrei Alexandrescu]

Don wrote:
> Walter Bright wrote:
>> The purpose of T[new] was to solve the problems T[] had with passing 
>> T[] to a function and then the function resizes the T[]. What happens 
>> with the original?
>>
>> The solution we came up with was to create a third array type, T[new], 
>> which was a reference type.
>>
>> Andrei had the idea that T[new] could be dispensed with by making a 
>> "builder" library type to handle creating arrays by doing things like 
>> appending, and then delivering a finished T[] type. This is similar to 
>> what std.outbuffer and std.array.Appender do, they just need a bit of 
>> refining.
>>
>> The .length property of T[] would then become an rvalue only, not an 
>> lvalue, and ~= would no longer be allowed for T[].
>>
>> We both feel that this would simplify D, make it more flexible, and 
>> remove some awkward corner cases like the inability to say a.length++.
>>
>> What do you think?
> 
> Since noone else seems to have said it: The fact that you're both 
> willing to let it go, after having already invested a lot of time in it, 
> is a good sign for the language. Well done.

I'm relieved that somebody mentioned that :o). As soon as we gave up 
with T[new], people started to sell it to us. We should preemptively 
post about eliminating feature plans before actually implementing them.

By the way: implementation of @property has been canceled.


Andrei