Fw: c++ "with" keyword

Fw: c++ "with" keyword

[Norman Jonas]

Since the several years I develop in c++ there is nothing I missed more than
the "with"
keyword as it is known by languages like Pascal. So I would like to know
what gcc
developer / user think of the idea to advance the c++ standard to add it.

Pro:
    Very useful for many c++ developer
    Slightly reduces code size / code to write

Contra:
    Needs time until compiler developing companies implement it

To give an example of what I think the with keyword should be used :

struct S
{
    int x;
    int y;
};

int main()
{
    S s;
    with (s)
    {
        .x = 1;
        .y = 2;
    }
    return 0;
}

and / or

class C
{
    public:
        void init ();
        void next ();
}

int main()
{
    C c;
    with (c)
    {
        .init();
        .next();
    }
    return 0;
}

This technique could be used in conjunction with structs as well as classes.
If there is enough reason to add this keyword to the c++ standard maybe the
ANSI consortium could be asked to add the "with" keyword to a new revision
of their c++ draft.

Norman Jonas

Re: Fw: c++ "with" keyword

[Alexandre Oliva]

On Dec 29, 2002, "Norman Jonas" <normanjonas@arcor.de> wrote:

> Since the several years I develop in c++ there is nothing I missed
> more than the "with" keyword as it is known by languages like
> Pascal. So I would like to know what gcc developer / user think of
> the idea to advance the c++ standard to add it.

There's a general trend against extensions in GCC these days.  I don't
always agree with this stance, but I happen to agree with it in this
case.  Pascal's `with' can be pretty much modeled in OO as the
implicit this.  Wishing for the presence of `with' is, IMHO, generally
an indication that the code should be in a method of the class whose
members you're accessing.  Besides, people often complain that C++ has
too much implicit behavior and room for ambiguities; `with' would just
add to it.

-- 
Alexandre Oliva   Enjoy Guarana', see http://www.ic.unicamp.br/~oliva/
Red Hat GCC Developer                 aoliva@{redhat.com, gcc.gnu.org}
CS PhD student at IC-Unicamp        oliva@{lsd.ic.unicamp.br, gnu.org}
Free Software Evangelist                Professional serial bug killer