[fpc-pascal] Illogical automatic dereferencing

[Jürgen Hestermann]

> About pointer arithmetic:
> IMO memory is an array. So for me it is quite natural that P^ and P[0] 
> are the same. 

You are missing the point. If you already *know* that you are dealing 
with a pointer (to an array), then of course you may use this workaround 
(it's nothing else, because if I want to specify the whole array why 
should I use the first element only?). It was stated here many times 
that the user should not care about how these dynamic arrays are handled 
but in reality he has to.

And even if he is aware of it the syntax is not logical. If the first 
element of the array is not zero, you cannot use your workaround. You 
have to check the numbering first and if you change this later you have 
to change your P[0] syntax too. Or you use P[low(P)] (again I am not 
sure whether I can use "low(P)" in this construct or whether I have to 
use "low(P^)". But then it already has become realy awkward. You should 
be able to use an unambiuous syntax to specify the whole array which 
does not seem to exist anymore.

Either the (hidden) pointer to array logic is fully transparent (which 
means, the user can use the same syntax as for standard arrays) or the 
user should know about it but then it should not be hidden. Now we have 
a mix of both.

> The only disturbing is the automatic dereferencing of pointer to 
> record/object in Delphi mode, where you can use PtrRect^.Left and 
> PtrRect.Left.
> But that only works in delphi mode, which I avoid.

Why is this more disturbig than for arrays? It's the same story.

> Great power comes with great responsibility.

Yes. Then use C or assembler. You are "responsible" for everything and 
you cannot expect any help from the compiler.