• stas (9/9) Oct 15 2012 For me syntax alias int Int; seems unnatural.
• bearophile (7/9) Oct 15 2012 You are not the first one to suggest similar ideas :-)
• Nick Sabalausky (5/16) Oct 15 2012 I'm pretty sure it was already decided that this would be added, but
• Andrej Mitrovic (3/6) Oct 15 2012 Yep.
• Timon Gehr (2/8) Oct 16 2012 This can be implemented in the parser, so it is quite simple.
• Marco Leise (6/16) Oct 15 2012 Just recently I wondered how the current syntax could possibly
• Jonathan M Davis (3/5) Oct 15 2012 It's the same as C's typedef syntax.
• Rob T (24/29) Oct 15 2012 Alias is not the same thing as C's typedef, but I understand it
• Jonathan M Davis (13/26) Oct 15 2012 The syntax is identical except for it being "alias" rather than "typedef...
• Rob T (16/21) Oct 16 2012 Different, as in the ways you've mentioned :)
• Era Scarecrow (77/84) Oct 16 2012 alias Int = int;
• Nick Sabalausky (8/26) Oct 16 2012 Actually, that's the reason I've always preferred the idea of "alias
• Adam D. Ruppe (4/6) Oct 16 2012 I often have to read it to myself in a sentence, like, literally
• Jonathan M Davis (10/12) Oct 15 2012 We'd have to dig through the newsgroup archives to be sure on that one. ...
• Andrej Mitrovic (2/3) Oct 15 2012 Nah just ask Andrei he already confirmed this once.
• Andrei Alexandrescu (4/7) Oct 17 2012 And I confirm again.
• Chris Nicholson-Sauls (13/13) Oct 17 2012 I would generally be pretty 'meh' on an enhancement like this, if
• Don Clugston (13/29) Oct 16 2012 That's my recollection too. I find that even after using it for years, I...
• stas (7/9) Oct 16 2012 Exactly.
• martin (2/6) Oct 16 2012 +1 to that. :)
• kenji hara (4/10) Oct 16 2012 The result of my challenging.
• so (6/9) Oct 16 2012 As far as i remember, Andrei said that it was planned and the
• Nick Sabalausky (6/19) Oct 16 2012 I think we can save that as a separate enhancement, especially since
• stas (2/4) Oct 16 2012 Respect.
• Andrej Mitrovic (2/4) Oct 16 2012 Awesome. :)
• Tommi (7/11) Oct 16 2012 You can cast your vote for the new syntax over there:
• stas (6/8) Oct 16 2012 That is awesome. I didn't know about that issue.

"stas" <stasoid yahoo.com> writes:

For me syntax alias int Int; seems unnatural.
I'd love to write
alias Int = int;
alias fptr = void(int)*;

This looks much more readable for me and harmonized with
int x = 0;
template T(alias A = Object) {...}

Does anybody share this opinion?
Any chance this syntax goes into D someday?

"bearophile" <bearophileHUGS lycos.com> writes:

stas:

 Does anybody share this opinion?
 Any chance this syntax goes into D someday?

You are not the first one to suggest similar ideas :-)

I think the general answer is: "Not big enough improvement to 
justify a language change". But I agree your syntax is better. 
Maybe it's too much late to change it now.

Bye,
bearophile

Nick Sabalausky <SeeWebsiteToContactMe semitwist.com> writes:

On Tue, 16 Oct 2012 05:00:56 +0200
"stas" <stasoid yahoo.com> wrote:

 For me syntax alias int Int; seems unnatural.
 I'd love to write
 alias Int = int;
 alias fptr = void(int)*;
 
 This looks much more readable for me and harmonized with
 int x = 0;
 template T(alias A = Object) {...}
 
 Does anybody share this opinion?
 Any chance this syntax goes into D someday?

I'm pretty sure it was already decided that this would be added, but
just hasn't made it in yet. I've been fairly eager for it. I find the
current syntax too inconsistent and confusing.

Andrej Mitrovic <andrej.mitrovich gmail.com> writes:

On 10/16/12, Nick Sabalausky <SeeWebsiteToContactMe semitwist.com> wrote:
 I'm pretty sure it was already decided that this would be added, but
 just hasn't made it in yet. I've been fairly eager for it. I find the
 current syntax too inconsistent and confusing.

Yep.

Paging Dr. Kenji!

Timon Gehr <timon.gehr gmx.ch> writes:

On 10/16/2012 06:01 AM, Andrej Mitrovic wrote:
 On 10/16/12, Nick Sabalausky <SeeWebsiteToContactMe semitwist.com> wrote:
 I'm pretty sure it was already decided that this would be added, but
 just hasn't made it in yet. I've been fairly eager for it. I find the
 current syntax too inconsistent and confusing.

 Yep.

 Paging Dr. Kenji!

This can be implemented in the parser, so it is quite simple.

Marco Leise <Marco.Leise gmx.de> writes:

Am Mon, 15 Oct 2012 23:18:33 -0400
schrieb Nick Sabalausky <SeeWebsiteToContactMe semitwist.com>:

 On Tue, 16 Oct 2012 05:00:56 +0200
 "stas" <stasoid yahoo.com> wrote:
 
 Does anybody share this opinion?
 Any chance this syntax goes into D someday?

 
 I'm pretty sure it was already decided that this would be added, but
 just hasn't made it in yet. I've been fairly eager for it. I find the
 current syntax too inconsistent and confusing.
 

Just recently I wondered how the current syntax could possibly
have come into existence. >)

-- 
Marco

Jonathan M Davis <jmdavisProg gmx.com> writes:

On Tuesday, October 16, 2012 06:08:27 Marco Leise wrote:
 Just recently I wondered how the current syntax could possibly
 have come into existence. >)

It's the same as C's typedef syntax.

- Jonathn M Davis

"Rob T" <rob ucora.com> writes:

On Tuesday, 16 October 2012 at 04:32:29 UTC, Jonathan M Davis 
wrote:
 On Tuesday, October 16, 2012 06:08:27 Marco Leise wrote:
 Just recently I wondered how the current syntax could possibly
 have come into existence. >)

 It's the same as C's typedef syntax.

 - Jonathn M Davis

Alias is not the same thing as C's typedef, but I understand it 
originally evolved out that way from C's version of typedef.

I agree that the current syntax does at first seem inconsistent 
with most other things in the language, and I found myself typing 
it in reverse with the = when I first tried using it, eg

alias Int = int;

On the other hand, I could argue that variable declarations are 
also inconsistent in the same way, eg

int i; // the "declare" keyword is implied

instead of

declare i = int;

So

alias int Int;

is indeed rather consistent with how type declarations are 
currently done. Unfortunately, inconsistencies create needless 
waste, but fixing something like that may be not worth the gain 
once it becomes deeply rooted in the language.

It may not be to late to change the syntax for alias definitions, 
but the type declarations will no doubt remain as they are, and 
the rest of it that is the reverse of type declarations will also 
likely remain as they are.

--rt

Jonathan M Davis <jmdavisProg gmx.com> writes:

On Tuesday, October 16, 2012 07:17:54 Rob T wrote:
 On Tuesday, 16 October 2012 at 04:32:29 UTC, Jonathan M Davis
 
 wrote:
 On Tuesday, October 16, 2012 06:08:27 Marco Leise wrote:
 Just recently I wondered how the current syntax could possibly
 have come into existence. >)

 
 It's the same as C's typedef syntax.
 
 - Jonathn M Davis

 
 Alias is not the same thing as C's typedef, but I understand it
 originally evolved out that way from C's version of typedef.

The syntax is identical except for it being "alias" rather than "typedef" and 
their usage is near identical. C/C++ will allow you to typedef struct 
declarations instead of just their name

typedef struct {...} name;

which D won't let you do, and D will let you alias any symbol, whereas C/C++'s 
typedef only works on types. But since neither actually declares a new type, 
I'm unaware of any real difference between the two other than those I already 
mentioned. They're pretty much the same thing, so I don't know why you're 
saying that they're different.

Regardless, my point was that the syntax was the same and so that's where 
alias' syntax comes from.

- Jonathan M Davis

"Rob T" <rob ucora.com> writes:

On Tuesday, 16 October 2012 at 05:27:53 UTC, Jonathan M Davis 
wrote:
 I'm unaware of any real difference between the two other than 
 those I already
 mentioned. They're pretty much the same thing, so I don't know 
 why you're
 saying that they're different.

Different, as in the ways you've mentioned :)

In response to the OP, I initially felt the same way, but it can 
be argued that the current syntax is more applicable to the type 
declaration syntax.

If we compare the proposed alternate syntax with current, which 
is better?

alias int Int;
Int x = 0;

vs

alias Int = int;
Int x = 0;

When I compare the two in this way, I'm inclined to keep things 
as they are.

--rt

"Era Scarecrow" <rtcvb32 yahoo.com> writes:

On Tuesday, 16 October 2012 at 07:52:51 UTC, Rob T wrote:
 alias int Int;
 Int x = 0;

 vs

 alias Int = int;
 Int x = 0;

 When I compare the two in this way, I'm inclined to keep things 
 as they are.

  alias Int = int;

  this looks too much like variable declaration and instantiation, 
perhaps with only one it looks better to go this way. But what if 
you need several? Perhaps an unrealistic example, let's increase 
it by a factor of seven.

alias SomeChar = char;
alias SomeShort = short;
alias SomeInt = int;
alias SomeUInt = uint;
alias SomeLong = long;
alias SomeFloat = float;
alias SomeDouble = double;
uint  MaybeBroken = nutmeg;
const SomeChar FavoriateLanguage = 'D';
const SomeShort universeAndEverything = 42;
const SomeInt hundredThousand = 100_000;
const SomeUInt million = SomeInt * 10;
const SomeLong largeNumber = SomeUInt * SomeUInt;
const SomeFloat pi = 3.14;
const SomeDouble pi2 = pi*pi;
const MaybeBroken maybe= 2;

or

alias SomeChar = char;
const SomeChar FavoriateLanguage = 'D';
alias SomeShort = short;
const SomeShort universeAndEverything = 42;
alias SomeInt = int;
const SomeInt hundredThousand = 100_000;
alias SomeUInt = uint;
const SomeUInt million = SomeInt * 10;
uint  MaybeBroken = nutmeg;
const MaybeBroken maybeBroke = 2;
alias SomeLong = long;
const SomeLong largeNumber = SomeUInt * SomeUInt;
alias SomeFloat = float;
const SomeFloat pi = 3.14;
alias SomeDouble = double;
const SomeDouble pi2 = pi*pi;

vs

alias char SomeChar;
alias short SomeShort;
alias int SomeInt;
alias uint SomeUInt;
alias long SomeLong;
alias float SomeFloat;
alias double SomeDouble;
alias nutmeg MaybeBroken;
const SomeChar FavoriateLanguage = 'D';
const SomeShort universeAndEverything = 42;
const SomeInt hundredThousand = 100_000;
const SomeUInt million = SomeInt * 10;
const SomeLong largeNumber = SomeUInt * SomeUInt;
const SomeFloat pi = 3.14;
const SomeDouble pi2 = pi*pi;
const MaybeBroken maybeBroken = 2;

or

alias char SomeChar;
const SomeChar FavoriateLanguage = 'D';
alias short SomeShort;
const SomeShort universeAndEverything = 42;
alias int SomeInt;
const SomeInt hundredThousand = 100_000;
alias nutmeg MaybeBroken;
const MaybeBroken maybeBroken = 2;
alias uint SomeUInt;
const SomeUInt million = SomeInt * 10;
alias long SomeLong;
const SomeLong largeNumber = SomeUInt * SomeUInt;
alias float SomeFloat;
const SomeFloat pi = 3.14;
alias double SomeDouble;
const SomeDouble pi2 = pi*pi;


  Without the assignment operator it stands out a little more of 
it's intention and not a variable declaration. But honestly both 
work, I wouldn't mind having the alternate syntax (as long as the 
language doesn't clutter and break anything).

Nick Sabalausky <SeeWebsiteToContactMe semitwist.com> writes:

On Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:32:01 +0200
"Era Scarecrow" <rtcvb32 yahoo.com> wrote:
 
 alias SomeChar = char;
 alias SomeShort = short;
 alias SomeInt = int;
 alias SomeUInt = uint;
 alias SomeLong = long;
 alias SomeFloat = float;
 alias SomeDouble = double;
 uint  MaybeBroken = nutmeg;
 const SomeChar FavoriateLanguage = 'D';
 const SomeShort universeAndEverything = 42;
 const SomeInt hundredThousand = 100_000;
 const SomeUInt million = SomeInt * 10;
 const SomeLong largeNumber = SomeUInt * SomeUInt;
 const SomeFloat pi = 3.14;
 const SomeDouble pi2 = pi*pi;
 const MaybeBroken maybe= 2;
 

Actually, that's the reason I've always preferred the idea of "alias
NewSym = OldSym;"

Well, that and because with the current syntax I always have to stop
and think "Ok, was it 'New then Old' or 'Old then New'?" I do know it's
"alias OldSym NewSym;", but I always have to stop and think about it
first. I even had to stop and think about it writing that sentence!

"Adam D. Ruppe" <destructionator gmail.com> writes:

On Tuesday, 16 October 2012 at 21:30:27 UTC, Nick Sabalausky 
wrote:
 Well, that and because with the current syntax I always have to 
 stop and think "Ok, was it 'New then Old' or 'Old then New'?"

I often have to read it to myself in a sentence, like, literally 
saying to myself: "alias old as new" to get it right.

Jonathan M Davis <jmdavisProg gmx.com> writes:

On Monday, October 15, 2012 23:18:33 Nick Sabalausky wrote:
 I'm pretty sure it was already decided that this would be added, but
 just hasn't made it in yet.

We'd have to dig through the newsgroup archives to be sure on that one. I'm 
pretty sure that it _wasn't_ decided that we'd add it, but I don't know for 
sure. But I don't think that it was entirely shot down either.

Personally, I'm so used to the current syntax at this point that I don't much 
care, and we'd have to add the new syntax on top of the current one (it would 
break too much code otherwise), which would arguably just complicate the 
language further. But it's certainly true that plenty of folks would prefer a 
syntax similar to assignment instead of the current syntax.

- Jonathan M Davis

Andrej Mitrovic <andrej.mitrovich gmail.com> writes:

On 10/16/12, Jonathan M Davis <jmdavisProg gmx.com> wrote:
 We'd have to dig through the newsgroup archives

Nah just ask Andrei he already confirmed this once.

Andrei Alexandrescu <SeeWebsiteForEmail erdani.org> writes:

On 10/16/12 1:08 AM, Andrej Mitrovic wrote:
 On 10/16/12, Jonathan M Davis<jmdavisProg gmx.com>  wrote:
 We'd have to dig through the newsgroup archives

 Nah just ask Andrei he already confirmed this once.

And I confirm again.

https://github.com/D-Programming-Language/dmd/pull/1187#issuecomment-9526522

Andrei

"Chris Nicholson-Sauls" <ibisbasenji gmail.com> writes:

I would generally be pretty 'meh' on an enhancement like this, if 
not for the umpteen times I've aliased rather complex (read: 
long) types/template-instances and found myself thinking it would 
be nice for the new name to be at the (visually grep'able) 
beginning of the declaration.

Consider simple example:

alias pipe!( readText, splitLines, map!( e => e.splitter( ',' ) 
), array ) readRows;

alias readRows = pipe!( readText, splitLines, map!( e => 
e.splitter( ',' ) ), array );

So ultimately I'm happy to see the change, even if it isn't high 
on the priority list imho.

-- Chris Nicholson-Sauls

Don Clugston <dac nospam.com> writes:

On 16/10/12 05:18, Nick Sabalausky wrote:
 On Tue, 16 Oct 2012 05:00:56 +0200
 "stas" <stasoid yahoo.com> wrote:

 For me syntax alias int Int; seems unnatural.
 I'd love to write
 alias Int = int;
 alias fptr = void(int)*;

 This looks much more readable for me and harmonized with
 int x = 0;
 template T(alias A = Object) {...}

 Does anybody share this opinion?
 Any chance this syntax goes into D someday?

 I'm pretty sure it was already decided that this would be added, but
 just hasn't made it in yet. I've been fairly eager for it. I find the
 current syntax too inconsistent and confusing.

That's my recollection too. I find that even after using it for years, I 
still have to pause and think for a moment whenever I see an alias:

alias Foo Bar;
// is this declaring Foo as an alias of Bar? Or Bar as an alias of Foo?
And if I see:
alias Foo int;
it doesn't instantly stand out to me as the wrong way round. There's a 
delay of 1-2 seconds.

Somehow this is something that my brain refuses to see as natural, no 
matter how many times it sees it. Whereas:

alias Bar = Foo;

is instantly clear, even though I've almost never seen it.

"stas" <stasoid yahoo.com> writes:

On Tuesday, 16 October 2012 at 09:32:49 UTC, Don Clugston wrote:
 Somehow this is something that my brain refuses to see as 
 natural, no matter how many times it sees it.

Exactly.

In C inconsistency was even more vivid:
sometimes I saw
#define BOOL int
and other times
typedef int Bool;  // what a heck?

"martin" <kinke libero.it> writes:

On Tuesday, 16 October 2012 at 09:32:49 UTC, Don Clugston wrote:
 Somehow this is something that my brain refuses to see as 
 natural, no matter how many times it sees it. Whereas:

 alias Bar = Foo;

 is instantly clear, even though I've almost never seen it.

+1 to that. :)

kenji hara <k.hara.pg gmail.com> writes:

2012/10/16 Andrej Mitrovic <andrej.mitrovich gmail.com>:
 On 10/16/12, Nick Sabalausky <SeeWebsiteToContactMe semitwist.com> wrote:
 I'm pretty sure it was already decided that this would be added, but
 just hasn't made it in yet. I've been fairly eager for it. I find the
 current syntax too inconsistent and confusing.

 Yep.

 Paging Dr. Kenji!

The result of my challenging.
https://github.com/D-Programming-Language/dmd/pull/1187

Kenji Hara

"so" <so so.so> writes:

On Tuesday, 16 October 2012 at 17:05:14 UTC, kenji hara wrote:

 The result of my challenging.
 https://github.com/D-Programming-Language/dmd/pull/1187

 Kenji Hara

As far as i remember, Andrei said that it was planned and the 
syntax will support templates too (like C++0x template alias). 
So, this might not be enough.

Something like:
alias vec(T) = vector!(T, allocator);

Nick Sabalausky <SeeWebsiteToContactMe semitwist.com> writes:

On Tue, 16 Oct 2012 20:45:34 +0200
"so" <so so.so> wrote:

 On Tuesday, 16 October 2012 at 17:05:14 UTC, kenji hara wrote:
 
 The result of my challenging.
 https://github.com/D-Programming-Language/dmd/pull/1187

 Kenji Hara

 
 As far as i remember, Andrei said that it was planned and the 
 syntax will support templates too (like C++0x template alias). 
 So, this might not be enough.
 
 Something like:
 alias vec(T) = vector!(T, allocator);

I think we can save that as a separate enhancement, especially since
Walter has said he wants to do the same thing for variables, too (or
at least enum manifest constants, anyway):

http://forum.dlang.org/thread/jojish$2cm2$1 digitalmars.com?page=7#post-jok8e6:24k13:241:40digitalmars.com

"stas" <stasoid yahoo.com> writes:

On Tuesday, 16 October 2012 at 17:05:14 UTC, kenji hara wrote:
 The result of my challenging.
 https://github.com/D-Programming-Language/dmd/pull/1187


Respect.

Andrej Mitrovic <andrej.mitrovich gmail.com> writes:

On 10/16/12, kenji hara <k.hara.pg gmail.com> wrote:
 The result of my challenging.
 https://github.com/D-Programming-Language/dmd/pull/1187

Awesome. :)

"Tommi" <tommitissari hotmail.com> writes:

On Tuesday, 16 October 2012 at 03:00:57 UTC, stas wrote:
 For me syntax alias int Int; seems unnatural.
 I'd love to write
 alias Int = int;
 alias fptr = void(int)*;

You can cast your vote for the new syntax over there:
http://d.puremagic.com/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=3011


By the way, in C++11 you can now also say:

using MyRealType = double;

...instead of:

typedef double MyRealType;

"stas" <stasoid yahoo.com> writes:

On Tuesday, 16 October 2012 at 14:45:41 UTC, Tommi wrote:
 You can cast your vote for the new syntax over there:
 http://d.puremagic.com/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=3011

That is awesome. I didn't know about that issue.
Let's vote, guys!

The issue have been there from 2009 and has only 5 votes.
I am sure if more people knew about it the number of votes would 
be much greater.