Hyman Rosen wrote:

> I'm curious as to why the fill and generate algorithms in STL don't return
> the past-the-end iterator instead of returning nothing. I have code which
> I would like to write like this:
>
>         p = a.begin();
>         p = fill(p, p + i, WHITE);
>         p = fill(p, p + j, BLACK);
>
> Instead, I have to say:
>
>         p = a.begin();
>         fill(p, p + i, WHITE);
>         p += i;
>         fill(p, p + j, BLACK);
>         p += j;
>
> What is there to lose by having a return value?

I'd agree, and add the char_traits template to the list.  Right now,
copy, move, etc all return a pointer to the start of the memory that's
being copied or moved.  I'd prefer a pointer one past the end of the
memory that's being copied or moved, so I know where to continue my
operator.

There it is even more annoying, because I have an integer and an
iterator, not two iterators.

--
#include <legalbs/standarddisclaimer>
Rich Paul                |  If you like what I say, tell my
C++, OOD, OOA, OOP,      |  employer, but if you don't,
OOPs, I forgot one ...   |  don't blame them.  ;->


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I'm curious as to why the fill and generate algorithms in STL don't return
the past-the-end iterator instead of returning nothing. I have code which
I would like to write like this:

 p = a.begin();
 p = fill(p, p + i, WHITE);
 p = fill(p, p + j, BLACK);

Instead, I have to say:

 p = a.begin();
 fill(p, p + i, WHITE);
 p += i;
 fill(p, p + j, BLACK);
 p += j;

What is there to lose by having a return value?


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