Would it be a useful extension to namespaces to have some
simple syntax which says that everybody in the namespace is a friend
of each other. ??

Something like:

namespace some_stuff friends {
    class A {...}
    class B { ...}
    etc.
}

The logic for this is that if there are a bunch of related classes
that are sitting together in a namespace, then it is likely that
they may need access to each others internals.



Michael T.

In article <CL6qut.DH1@world.std.com>
miket@world.std.com (Michael Trachtman) writes:

MT>Would it be a useful extension to namespaces to have some
MT>simple syntax which says that everybody in the namespace is a friend
MT>of each other. ??

MT>Something like:

MT>namespace some_stuff friends {

This "namespace" topic comes up here often.  Until recently, I
thought the conversation was referring to the conventional use
of the word.  It has become more apparent to me that it has
something to do with yet-another-addition to the language
spec.  I find no reference to this in the ARM.  Is it
an extension that has been proposed?  If so, could somebody
post an article describing the purpose of this?  Or maybe
an update to the FAC?

Gosh! folks, I wish the committee would quit extending the
language and standardize what's already there.  After we
have some standards, and work with complient products,
then a committee could be convened to discuss extensions.
I have one compiler that supports everything in the ARM.
I wish the other compilers that I will be working with would
support everything in the ARM, but I suspect the more conservative
vendors are hesitant to make that kind of commitment given the
current state of affairs with the WP.

This is a plea.  Just a plea from a poor simple programmer
who wants to use the language long enough to get one
project completed without having the language definition
change during the course of development.  I'm not saying
the committee isn't doing a good job, maybe _too_ good
of a job.  Just begging for mercy.
regards,
chris
---
. OLX 2.2 . Plagarism prohibited.  Derive carefully.

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