John Nagle <nagle@animats.com> writes:

>      C99 went off in a FORTRAN-like direction for variable
> length arrays, and is now different from C++ in
> this area.  What's the plan for bringing the languges
> back together?

I don't think there is a precise plan, yet, since the next revision of
the C++ standard is still years away. It has been indicated by
traditional committee members that features of C99 are certainly
candidates for inclusion into the next revision of C++ (based on the
schedule of C, it might be reasonable to expect the next revision of
C++ not before 2008).

It probably would be best if vendors implement those features as
extensions to their C++ compilers (and in fact, some do); that way,
the committee must only codify existing practice.

Regards,
Martin

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John Nagle <nagle@animats.com> wrote
> C99 went off in a FORTRAN-like direction for variable
> length arrays, and is now different from C++ in
> this area.  What's the plan for bringing the languges
> back together?

I'm guessing: round up the tape and glue, because if you
can stick this feature into C++ without coming up with
something too ugly, it's sure to be a keeper.

On the other hand, if you've got some reason why VLA's
simply cannot be brought into C++ -- say, if it breaks
a significant class of programs that are legal today,
or even if it can't reasonably be used with some other
feature -- now would be a good time to tell us all
about it.

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     C99 went off in a FORTRAN-like direction for variable
length arrays, and is now different from C++ in
this area.  What's the plan for bringing the languges
back together?

    John Nagle
    Animats

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