[fpc-devel] Redefine FillChar() to use out parameter instead

["Vinzent Höfler"]

Florian Klaempfl <florian at freepascal.org>:

> A VAROUT parameter could have the same semantics as VAR except that the
> compiler does not expect that it is needed that it is initialized. But
> be warned: with such a parameter type you can easily create memory leaks
> with automated types like ansistrings.

I don't understand the issue. Firstly, it's just a keyword. Secondly, the compiler should know if the actual type is reference counted or not.

So if the programmer can decide which keyword to use, why the hell should it be a problem for the compiler (which usually knows much better than the programmer)?

IMO, something like

-- 8< --
if Is_Reference_Counted (Type) then
   Parameter_Mode := Out_Ref;
else
   Parameter_Mode := Plain_Ref;
end if;
-- 8< --

can't be so hard to accomplish, can it?

I even thought, it's impossible for reference counted types to be uninitialized (in a purely technical way), because the compiler does the initialization automatically? Or how else can it rely on the associated reference count?


Vinzent.

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