[fpc-devel] generics

[Danny Milosavljevic]

Hi,

Am Donnerstag, den 28.04.2005, 07:53 +0200 schrieb Peter Vreman:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I'm trying to add support for generics (templates) to fpc.
> >
> > Do we want to have a "generics" section (like "interface",
> > "implementation") or do we want a special source code type (like "unit",
> > "program") in the source code ?
> >
> > I'm tending to a special source code type "generic unit".
> >
> > The generic source code file (.pas,.pp) is installed (not the .ppu,.o).
> > Then in the 'uses' handler, when not finding a ppu, it reverts to the
> > pas file, and then finds that it is a special source code "generic unit"
> > or so, so it *doesnt* compile it right now, but 'uses' actually just
> > registers the generic classes as 'available for compilation later'.
> 
> You only need 1 generic type at once. 

I dont understand what you mean by that sentence. At once when
attributed to what ? Need where ? Need how ? (uses, derivation, type
alias, variable declaration, ?)

I have a test maplist module with only one generic per unit (that the
$DEFINE/type approach only works with one generic/unit might add to
it ;)), if you mean that. I agree that multiple generic classes in one
unit would be good. But mixing generic classes and non-generic classes
in one unit isn't a must-have item, really.

> Why should a complete generic unit
> be used? Also using it as a unit is inconsistent with the way that units
> are handled and will require a lot of if..then parts in the unit loading
> code.  
> And that code is already one of the most complex parts of the
> compiler. It is already on a after 2.0 todo list to be rewritten because
> of this complexity.

I see. Well, then lets do generics sections (like "interface",
"implementation") (maybe "generics interface", "generics
implementation" ?) or perhaps not separate them section-wise at all
(that is, mix generic types and non-generic types in the unit as if they
were the same; would be confusing, perhaps)

cheers,
   Danny

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