Inferring static array size

[rkompass]

On Friday, 3 May 2024 at 18:27:56 UTC, Nick Treleaven wrote:
>
>  `staticArray!range` only works when `range` elements are known 
> at compile-time.
>
> ```d
> auto powersOfTwo = staticArray!10(generate!(() => i *= 2)());
> pragma(msg, typeof(powersOfTwo)); // int[10]
> ```

Thanks for the many nice explanations. I now have the feeling I 
get the point.

I tried and found that:
```d
auto c = 5.iota.staticArray!5;        // works
```

My interpretation is: `iota()` is a lazy range function (forward 
range??).
It's laziness implies that the point of termination (and thus the 
length) is not known at the start.
Which is a requirement for `staticArray`.

Now the questions arise:

1. Could an alternative to staticArray be coded that stores the 
elements in a dynamic array at compile time and then convert that 
to a static array?

2. Would it make sense to add a range type that is lazy, but at 
the same time provides/transports information about its 
length/size?

3. Would it perhaps be possible to code a better `iota()` that 
has this ability?

These are learners questions.
I hope you don't mind. They belong to this topic, I suppose. 
Thank you.