www.digitalmars.com         C & C++   DMDScript  

digitalmars.D - Some dynamic dispatch to reduce template bloat

reply "bearophile" <bearophileHUGS lycos.com> writes:
This "Dynamic dispatch" section of the Clay language 
documentation shows a way to avoid some template bloat (that is 
common in Clay):

https://github.com/jckarter/clay/wiki/Avoiding-generic-programming-pitfalls

Maybe it's possible to make that syntax&code shorter and lighter.

Bye,
bearophile
Jan 22 2013
parent reply "mist" <none none.none> writes:
On Tuesday, 22 January 2013 at 11:09:05 UTC, bearophile wrote:
 This "Dynamic dispatch" section of the Clay language 
 documentation shows a way to avoid some template bloat (that is 
 common in Clay):

 https://github.com/jckarter/clay/wiki/Avoiding-generic-programming-pitfalls

 Maybe it's possible to make that syntax&code shorter and 
 lighter.

 Bye,
 bearophile
May be I do not get it, but this can already be done in D. There is always a trade-off between template binary bloat and performance penalty of dynamic typing and suggested approach (make a templated light interface and code most function using dynamic typing) is not that uncommon one even in C++ world.
Jan 22 2013
parent reply "bearophile" <bearophileHUGS lycos.com> writes:
mist:

 this can already be done in D.
Of course. But that link is a starting point to invent a possible syntax sugar. Sometimes some sugar makes the difference from nearly never using a feature, and using it when it's useful.
 There is always a trade-off between template binary bloat and 
 performance penalty of dynamic typing
Right. A flexible language allows you to chose case by case (with a default, when you don't care). Bye, bearophile
Jan 22 2013
parent reply "mist" <none none.none> writes:
What syntax sugar do you propose? There is hardly anything in the 
link that can't be done with current std.variant.Algebraic at 
first glance. Only stuff I can think of is some convenient way to 
retrieve strongly typed value from Algebraic back, but that is 
library update, nothing to do about language syntax.
Jan 22 2013
parent reply "bearophile" <bearophileHUGS lycos.com> writes:
mist:

 What syntax sugar do you propose?
Maybe some tagging to denote what template arguments should be autoboxed? The last piece of code in that page shows two saveClient() functions. Maybe only one of them is needed, and the other can be auto-generated. Bye, bearophile
Jan 22 2013
parent "mist" <none none.none> writes:
On Tuesday, 22 January 2013 at 14:39:58 UTC, bearophile wrote:
 mist:

 What syntax sugar do you propose?
Maybe some tagging to denote what template arguments should be autoboxed? The last piece of code in that page shows two saveClient() functions. Maybe only one of them is needed, and the other can be auto-generated. Bye, bearophile
So far not convincing, do not see a lot of added value for new syntax :) Thanks for your explanations anyway.
Jan 22 2013