[fpc-devel] Language semantic suggesion regarding static methods

[J. Gareth Moreton]

Hi everyone,

This is a very low-level semantic issue, but I'm not particularly keen 
on how static methods are defined in classes.

*class function *StaticMethod: Integer; *static;*

What's wrong with it? Well, it's an issue of consistency that gets me, 
plus 'static' is only valid as part of a class method declaration, 
making it a very restrictive directive.  I'm not sure how best to 
explain it, but there are three levels of 'connectivity' that a method 
can have with an object:

*function *RegularMethod: Integer; // Self points to the calling object
*class function *ClassMethod: Integer; // Self points to the calling class
*class function *StaticMethod: Integer; *static;* // Self unavailable - 
effectively a regular subroutine tied to the class.

To draw attention to the inconsistency, I doubt anyone would support 
syntax like this (or maybe they would... I don't know!):

*function *ClassMethod: Integer; *class;*

For one thing, it doesn't immediately jump out that the method is a 
class method, especially if there are a lot of parameters and it scrolls 
off the edge of the UI.  For language consistency, surely a more logical 
syntax would be the following:

****

*static function *StaticMethod: Integer;

****

For backward compatibility, I would suggest keeping the 'static' 
directive for class methods so existing code doesn't break, but maybe 
mark it as deprecated.

Granted I can live with it if it isn't going to be changed, but it's 
something that always bugged me!

Gareth aka. Kit

P.S. If I've missed something obvious as to why static methods are 
implemented using a directive, please educate me!



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