[fpc-devel] Need patch for bugs : 0011503 / 0009472

[Jonas Maebe]

On 19 Jun 2008, at 13:53, Boian Mitov wrote:

> This functionality works in all versions of Delphi 5-2007. We  
> support them all, and we have done so for years. We have no problems  
> to compile with such optimizations turned off.

One final time: please read the comments to http://bugs.freepascal.org/view.php?id=9472 
.

It's not an optimisation which needs to be turned off. On the  
contrary, you are depending on a particular optimisation to be  
performed (namely skipping the use of temporary function results when  
assigning the result of a function returning an interface to certain  
classes of local variables). The effects of this behaviour can also be  
emulated by clearing all temps immediately after their use, as Michael  
indicates, in which case you obviously get slower and much more  
bloated code (and make the compiler code itself also more complex).

I repeat: there is absolutely nothing wrong with using a temporary  
function result in such situations, and depending on it not being used  
is an error in your code. Your program will also break under Delphi  
e.g. when you assign the interface result of a nested functions to a  
local variable and also access this variable from the nested function.

You also have not explained why it is so crucial that the interfaces  
are immediately released.

> We need proper reference counting.

There is proper reference counting: there are no memory leaks. That's  
really all that automatic reference counting guarantees.

You may also want to have a look at http://wiki.freepascal.org/Code_Conversion_Guide#Semantical_differences 
  for a couple more implementation differences between Delphi and FPC.


Jonas