• Andrei Alexandrescu (14/14) Mar 07 2009 In what could be a supremely ironic turn, dmd has a null dereference
• Sean Kelly (4/20) Mar 07 2009 That's nasty. And it reminds me that I really need to try and figure
• Andrei Alexandrescu (9/30) Mar 07 2009 Exactly. This event reminds me of a funny story that happened a couple

Andrei Alexandrescu <SeeWebsiteForEmail erdani.org> writes:

In what could be a supremely ironic turn, dmd has a null dereference 
error that leaves me in the dust. I have to compile a largish D2 app 
that last compiled in 2007. I was thinking all I have to do is fix the 
language and compiler changes, which is what I was doing, until a point 
where dmd unceremoniously aborts compilation with:

Segmentation fault

This looks like a null dereference, and is the fourth time I am seeing 

writing should be, whenever you fail for whatever reason, inform the 
user about where you were. Trying to do forensics without such vital 
information wastes hours like minutes.

If there was a need to convince me that null dereference can be harmful, 
this situation drove the point home in a rather painful way.


Andrei

Sean Kelly <sean invisibleduck.org> writes:

Andrei Alexandrescu wrote:
 In what could be a supremely ironic turn, dmd has a null dereference 
 error that leaves me in the dust. I have to compile a largish D2 app 
 that last compiled in 2007. I was thinking all I have to do is fix the 
 language and compiler changes, which is what I was doing, until a point 
 where dmd unceremoniously aborts compilation with:
 
 Segmentation fault
 
 This looks like a null dereference, and is the fourth time I am seeing 

 writing should be, whenever you fail for whatever reason, inform the 
 user about where you were. Trying to do forensics without such vital 
 information wastes hours like minutes.
 
 If there was a need to convince me that null dereference can be harmful, 
 this situation drove the point home in a rather painful way.

That's nasty.  And it reminds me that I really need to try and figure 
out if file/line info can be reported for a segfault.  Though I guess 
the larger issue is whether D should have a non-null attribute :-)

Andrei Alexandrescu <SeeWebsiteForEmail erdani.org> writes:

Sean Kelly wrote:
 Andrei Alexandrescu wrote:
 In what could be a supremely ironic turn, dmd has a null dereference 
 error that leaves me in the dust. I have to compile a largish D2 app 
 that last compiled in 2007. I was thinking all I have to do is fix the 
 language and compiler changes, which is what I was doing, until a 
 point where dmd unceremoniously aborts compilation with:

 Segmentation fault

 This looks like a null dereference, and is the fourth time I am seeing 

 writing should be, whenever you fail for whatever reason, inform the 
 user about where you were. Trying to do forensics without such vital 
 information wastes hours like minutes.

 If there was a need to convince me that null dereference can be 
 harmful, this situation drove the point home in a rather painful way.

 
 That's nasty.  And it reminds me that I really need to try and figure 
 out if file/line info can be reported for a segfault.  Though I guess 
 the larger issue is whether D should have a non-null attribute :-)

Exactly. This event reminds me of a funny story that happened a couple 
of years ago. A radio talk show was discussing banning use of cell 
phones while driving. Some big wig politician calls the show and says, 
"I am driving right now and have no problem using my cell phone." Turns 
out the big wig subsequently did have an accident - that was heard on 
the show - ending that very dialog.

I can't find that story, newer stories are covering it in google.


Andrei