[fpc-devel] "referenced properties" vs "value properties"

[Hans-Peter Diettrich]

Skybuck Flying schrieb:
> I think the Delphi language has a little problem when it comes to
> "properties".
> 
> I consider C/C++ to be a "value language" or maybe even a "const language"
> where addresses of classes and fields are constant or hard coded into
> instructions.
> 
> While Delphi is more of a "reference language" or "pointer language" where
> addresses of classes are stored in data pointers which are used via
> instructions.

A closer look will reveal that references had to be introduced into the 
C++ language, in order to make operators work with certain data types 
(arrays...).

> The closest thing to a c++ class is a record in Delphi.

Closest comes the Object type, but Borland/CodeGear decided to drop that 
useful type, and moved part of its features into records (methods...). 
FPC still supports Object very well.


> The problem with properties currently is that it does not allow partial
> modification of records or arrays

That's due to the (possibly) virtual getters/setters, which make 
properties a really useful language feature. If you want references, 
then use data fields (var) instead of properties.


> The operators themselfes do not seem to work with pointer types, so 
> pointers
> will have to be deferenced, quite a mess.

See C++.

DoDi