On Wed, 16 Mar 2011 22:05:49 +0100, Steven Schveighoffer <schvei...@yahoo.com> wrote:

On Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:49:53 -0400, Simen kjaeraas
<simen.kja...@gmail.com> wrote:

On Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:23:47 +0100, Steven Schveighoffer <schvei...@yahoo.com> wrote:

struct Point2 {
    int x, y;
    void draw(Canvas c) {...}
}

struct Point3 : Point2 {
    int z;
    void draw(Canvas c) {...}
}

Point3 p3;
Point2 *p2 = &p3;

// what does this do?
p2.draw(c);

Nothing. You should got a type error upon attempting to assign a p3* to a p2*.

We are assuming struct inheritance works here, as in C++. In C++ I can the address of a derived object to a base class pointer without a cast.

And I was assuming we tried to fix C++'s problems in that regard. If we
were to use the rule I chose, the slicing problem is moot.


This exact code compiles in C++ except for putting semi-colons after the structs (BTW, I have to mention that I freaking LOVE D for eliminating that)

I know. It's my number one C/C++ mistake, and same for all students I've
had to help (as well as some teachers :).


and change p2.draw(c) to p2->draw(c).

Even if you say that you shouldn't be allowed to do that, then you are going to have complaints as to why it's different from C++...

We already have that. Just the other day, some guy named Jens complained
that D structs can't be derived from.


The point is, if we allow inheritance on structs, it causes more confusion to people who expect certain things from inheritance than it beautifies syntax.

I agree. I also prefer alias this, both for its flexibility and its
distinctiveness. I just felt that the slicing problem is trivially fixed,
and thus need not be a part of the discussion.

--
Simen

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