Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register [http] [https] [nntp] [nntps]
| From | Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> |
|---|---|
| Newsgroups | comp.lang.c |
| Subject | Re: References in C |
| Date | 2011-06-27 17:04 +1200 |
| Message-ID | <96qhbhF2dgU4@mid.individual.net> (permalink) |
| References | <iu1iku$4k9$1@speranza.aioe.org> <kfnfwmw9jte.fsf@x-alumni2.alumni.caltech.edu> |
On 06/27/11 12:53 PM, Tim Rentsch wrote: > jacob navia<jacob@spamsink.net> writes: >> >> What are references? >> >> In fact, a reference is just a pointer. It is different from plain >> pointers in two ways: >> >> (1) It is always assigned to a concrete object when it is defined. >> (2) Once defined, it will always point to that same object. It can't >> be changed to point into another object. >> (3) It is used with the '.' notation, as if it weren't a pointer. >> (4) Instead of "*' the symbol "&" is used: >> int i = 23; >> int&IntReference = i; >> >> [snip elaboration] > > Let's look at the plusses and minuses. > > Plus: > > 1. Reduced syntax - calls don't need '&' to take address, > uses don't need '*' to dereference, don't need 'const' > in declarations. . Frequency: common. New capability > offered: none, all these can be done currently using > small amounts of local syntax. Benefit: minor. The use of const would be no different to pointer parameters. <snip> > Minus: > > 1. Language is bigger. There is more to read and understand, > and it complicates the type system (as anyone who has > tried to read through the C++ standard can attest). > Frequency: ubiquitous for new developers, presumably low > for experienced developers. Cost: hard to quantify, but > not trivial. It probably would be trivial, most other common languages use some form of pass by reference and the concept is well understood. If anything it would be easier to understand considering how tricky novices find pointers. > 2. Unobvious effects on program semantics. Because of how > non-lvalues are dealt with, calls that look similar may > have very different semantics; eg, if foo() accepts a > reference argument, 'foo( x )' and 'foo( x++ )' behave > very differently (and unobviously so as far as the call > site goes). Frequency: presumably low. Downside: for > cases where it matters, potentially large. Cost: low > frequency times large downside gives non-negligible cost. They should behave very differently at compile time! foo(x++) will fail to compile in C++ (the result of x++ is not an lvalue). > 3. Hidden side effects. Without references, when calling a > function it's immediately obvious if argument values can > be modified -- if there is an '&' (or an array is used), > then the argument might be modified, otherwise it can't > be. With references, any lvalue argument is potentially > modifiable; the only way to know is check the function > prototype. Frequency: high. Downside: additional effort > spent in program development. Cost: extra work on every > function call gives significant cost. The same applies with a pointer parameter. > Summary: > > In C++, the justification for references usually involves > struct's or class'es with member functions, and perhaps > the additional rules related to type conversions in the > presense of C++ 'base'/'derived' types. Operator overloading is probably the main reason in C++. > In C, these factors simply aren't present. References > add essentially no additional semantic power, and bring > with them a significant burden. The one quality that > may offer value doesn't belong in the language, any > more than gcc's compiler-option style rules belong in > the language. Adding references to C gives a net result > that is overall a big minus. I disagree that there is a big minus. I'd say the cost to benefit for C is about even, with the reduction in clutter tipping the balance in their favour. > If someone is interested in counting votes, I would have to > give this suggestion a thumbs down. I would consider abstaining! -- Ian Collins
Back to comp.lang.c | Previous | Next — Previous in thread | Next in thread | Find similar | Unroll thread
References in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-24 10:42 +0200
Re: References in C BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-24 02:53 -0700
Re: References in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-24 22:10 +1200
Re: References in C "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-06-24 11:14 +0100
Re: References in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-24 16:59 +0200
Re: References in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-06-24 09:26 -0400
Re: References in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-24 20:08 +0200
Re: References in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-06-24 11:40 -0700
Re: References in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-06-24 14:53 -0400
Re: References in C jt@toerring.de (Jens Thoms Toerring) - 2011-06-24 20:44 +0000
Re: References in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-24 23:09 +0200
Re: References in C Joe Wright <joewwright@comcast.net> - 2011-06-24 17:38 -0400
Re: References in C "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-06-24 22:58 +0100
Re: References in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-25 10:11 +1200
Re: References in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-06-26 17:00 -0500
Re: References in C "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-06-26 22:55 +0100
Re: References in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-06-26 18:25 -0500
Re: References in C "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-06-26 23:38 +0100
Re: References in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-06-26 19:19 -0500
Re: References in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-27 01:27 +0200
Re: References in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-06-26 19:13 -0700
Re: References in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-27 16:50 +1200
Re: References in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-27 06:55 +0200
Re: References in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-27 17:10 +1200
Re: References in C lawrence.jones@siemens.com - 2011-06-27 10:04 -0400
Re: References in C jt@toerring.de (Jens Thoms Toerring) - 2011-06-26 22:54 +0000
Re: References in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-27 01:29 +0200
Re: References in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-06-26 19:39 -0500
Re: References in C pacman@kosh.dhis.org (Alan Curry) - 2011-06-27 07:16 +0000
Re: References in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-27 09:46 +0200
Re: References in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-06-27 12:03 -0400
Re: References in C Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2011-06-27 12:09 -0500
Re: References in C pacman@kosh.dhis.org (Alan Curry) - 2011-06-27 22:16 +0000
Re: References in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-06-27 11:57 -0400
Re: References in C pacman@kosh.dhis.org (Alan Curry) - 2011-06-27 22:21 +0000
Re: References in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-28 13:59 +1200
Re: References in C Ike Naar <ike@iceland.freeshell.org> - 2011-06-27 07:05 +0000
Re: References in C jt@toerring.de (Jens Thoms Toerring) - 2011-06-27 20:10 +0000
Re: References in C Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2011-06-27 16:39 -0500
Re: References in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-06-26 15:23 -0700
Re: References in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-06-26 18:57 -0500
Re: References in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-06-26 19:21 -0700
Re: References in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-06-27 09:40 -0400
Re: References in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-06-27 09:00 -0700
Re: References in C pacman@kosh.dhis.org (Alan Curry) - 2011-06-27 23:15 +0000
Re: References in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-06-28 22:50 -0700
Re: References in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-06-29 17:46 +0000
Re: References in C Dr Nick <3-nospam@temporary-address.org.uk> - 2011-06-29 20:23 +0100
Re: References in C pacman@kosh.dhis.org (Alan Curry) - 2011-06-29 22:35 +0000
Re: References in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-06-29 16:52 -0700
Re: References in C Phil Carmody <thefatphil_demunged@yahoo.co.uk> - 2011-07-03 01:31 +0300
Re: References in C Chad <cdalten@gmail.com> - 2011-07-02 17:20 -0700
Re: References in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-06-29 18:54 -0500
Re: References in C Michael Press <rubrum@pacbell.net> - 2011-06-30 10:32 -0700
Re: References in C "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-07-01 10:19 +0200
Re: References in C pacman@kosh.dhis.org (Alan Curry) - 2011-07-01 19:21 +0000
Re: References in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-07-01 12:31 -0700
Re: References in C pacman@kosh.dhis.org (Alan Curry) - 2011-07-01 19:32 +0000
Re: References in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-07-01 13:05 -0700
Re: References in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-07-01 23:58 +0000
Re: References in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-07-01 20:13 -0500
Re: References in C Michael Press <rubrum@pacbell.net> - 2011-07-01 12:44 -0700
Re: References in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-07-01 15:57 -0500
Re: References in C Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2011-07-03 14:54 -0700
Re: References in C Michael Press <rubrum@pacbell.net> - 2011-07-03 20:29 -0700
Re: References in C Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2011-07-04 16:05 -0700
Re: References in C Michael Press <rubrum@pacbell.net> - 2011-07-05 08:32 -0700
Re: References in C Lowell Gilbert <lgusenet@be-well.ilk.org> - 2011-07-05 15:34 -0400
Re: References in C Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2011-07-06 15:30 -0700
Re: References in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-27 13:27 +1200
Re: References in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-06-27 09:02 -0400
Re: References in C "Joel C. Salomon" <joelcsalomon@gmail.com> - 2011-06-26 18:35 -0400
Re: References in C James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2011-06-26 19:11 -0400
Re: References in C "Joel C. Salomon" <joelcsalomon@gmail.com> - 2011-06-28 00:52 -0400
Re: References in C James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2011-06-28 07:56 -0400
Re: References in C Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2011-06-24 22:52 +0100
Re: References in C jt@toerring.de (Jens Thoms Toerring) - 2011-06-24 23:58 +0000
Re: References in C Tom St Denis <tom@iahu.ca> - 2011-06-24 06:48 -0700
Re: References in C David Resnick <lndresnick@gmail.com> - 2011-06-24 07:14 -0700
Re: References in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-24 16:58 +0200
Re: References in C Tom St Denis <tom@iahu.ca> - 2011-06-24 09:08 -0700
Re: References in C Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2011-06-24 11:33 -0500
Re: References in C gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2011-06-24 17:47 +0000
Re: References in C JG <jgrove24@hotmail.com> - 2011-07-01 14:24 -0700
Re: References in C Nick Keighley <nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-25 04:39 -0700
Re: References in C BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-25 16:15 -0700
Re: References in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-26 11:27 +1200
Re: References in C BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-25 19:13 -0700
Re: References in C cri@tiac.net (Richard Harter) - 2011-06-26 04:22 +0000
Re: References in C Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2011-06-26 01:31 -0500
Re: References in C BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-26 00:03 -0700
Re: References in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-06-26 13:54 -0500
Re: References in C luser- -droog <mijoryx@yahoo.com> - 2011-07-07 11:19 -0700
Re: References in C Dr Nick <3-nospam@temporary-address.org.uk> - 2011-06-26 08:15 +0100
Re: References in C Ike Naar <ike@sverige.freeshell.org> - 2011-06-24 16:08 +0000
Re: References in C Tom St Denis <tom@iahu.ca> - 2011-06-24 11:12 -0700
Re: References in C Ike Naar <ike@iceland.freeshell.org> - 2011-06-24 21:42 +0000
Re: References in C Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2011-06-24 11:49 -0500
Re: References in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-06-24 13:17 -0700
Re: References in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-06-24 16:46 -0400
Re: References in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-06-24 14:32 -0700
Re: References in C Gareth Owen <gwowen@gmail.com> - 2011-06-25 09:39 +0100
Re: References in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-07-04 17:38 -0400
Re: References in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-06-24 16:33 -0400
Re: References in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-24 23:04 +0200
Re: References in C Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2011-06-26 17:53 -0700
Re: References in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-27 17:04 +1200
Re: References in C Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2011-06-27 14:28 -0700
Re: References in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-28 14:11 +1200
Re: References in C Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2011-06-28 16:27 -0700
Re: References in C Michael Press <rubrum@pacbell.net> - 2011-06-29 13:41 -0700
Re: References in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-06-29 21:15 +0000
Re: References in C Michael Press <rubrum@pacbell.net> - 2011-06-30 09:26 -0700
Re: References in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-06-30 20:55 +0000
Re: References in C Michael Press <rubrum@pacbell.net> - 2011-06-30 16:20 -0700
Re: References in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-06-30 23:45 +0000
Re: References in C James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2011-07-01 07:58 -0400
Re: References in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-27 10:43 +0200
Re: References in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-06-27 08:32 -0700
Re: References in C Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2011-06-28 11:01 -0700
Re: References in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-28 22:17 +0200
Re: References in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-29 09:05 +1200
Re: References in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-06-28 22:24 -0700
Re: References in C Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2011-06-29 01:07 -0700
Re: References in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-29 21:16 +1200
Re: References in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-06-29 17:46 +0000
Re: References in C Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2011-06-29 12:19 -0700
Re: References in C sandeep <nospam@nospam.com> - 2011-07-03 20:53 +0000
Re: References in C Chad <cdalten@gmail.com> - 2011-07-03 14:02 -0700
Re: References in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-07-03 14:33 -0700
Re: References in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-07-04 00:22 +0200
Re: References in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-07-04 13:41 -0700
Re: References in C gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2011-07-04 00:00 +0000
Re: References in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-07-04 00:20 +0000
Re: References in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-07-04 17:43 -0400
csiph-web