DIP 36: Rvalue References

[Andrei Alexandrescu]

On 4/23/13 2:32 PM, Manu wrote:
> On 24 April 2013 04:01, Andrei Alexandrescu
> <SeeWebsiteForEmail at erdani.org <mailto:SeeWebsiteForEmail at erdani.org>>
> wrote:
>
>     On 4/23/13 1:57 PM, Steven Schveighoffer wrote:
>
>         On Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:33:31 -0400, Andrei Alexandrescu
>         <SeeWebsiteForEmail at erdani.org
>         <mailto:SeeWebsiteForEmail at erdani.org>__> wrote:
>
>             Our intent is to make "ref" always scoped and reserve
>             non-scoped uses
>             to pointers.
>
>
>         So no more returning ref?
>
>
>     If we can't return ref, ref has failed. (This is what makes the
>     entire thing difficult btw.)
>
>
> I think the key that's not in this DIP is that it should also return
> 'scope ref' to maintain the safety.
> This brings the proposal in-line with your plans, except the safety is
> explicit, and the option is available to the programmer.

We prefer to simplify. Use ref safely for scoped pass-down of resources, 
use pointers for unrestricted escapes. What you see as "offering an 
option" I see as "adding a burden".

> Making 'safe' ref the default is a major breaking change.

How do you assess the size of the breakage?


Andrei