[fpc-pascal] Optional param modifier

[Ryan Joseph]

> On Apr 13, 2019, at 2:45 PM, Martin Frb <lazarus at mfriebe.de> wrote:
> 
> Well that doesn't work. Unless you wrote pthread_create (or whatever other function).
> Because the "opitonal" parameter (which really only serves as documentation hint) is itself optional.
> So if the author of the code that you intend to use did not put "optional" in there, you are still where you are now. And you cant force the author to put it there. Same as you cant force the author to put it on top of the documentation.
> 
> Already today the author could add a comment (even pasdoc) to the declaration. And it serves the same effect.

Sure, if it’s not used then it’s not very helpful. :) Comments are the same effect? Then why not prefer comments for “const” params or even public/private sections. Surely this isn’t a good idea:

type
  TClassName = class (TObject)
    {private}
    m_var: integer;
    {public}
    procedure DoThis({const} p: TPoint);
  end;

They’re just simple hints that provide some compile time errors.

> 
> Also the is a difference between:
> - the parameter is nil-able (better term that optional, optional has a different meaning)
> - the compiler needs to enforce an check for "<> nil"
> 
> If the parameter is only stored, for later usage, then the nil can be stored too. There is no check needed for that.
> It will be needed later in some other function, but the compiler can not know where that may be.
> 
> You can even call methods on an object that is nil. So long as they are:
> - not virtual, nor call virtual methods themself
> - do not access "self" without prior check that it is not nil

All true. I only propose this for cases where nil could be passed/returned and the programmer can be given more information and forced to check since this is the pattern they were supposed to do anyways. It’s not a magic catch-all, just a minor markup thing like “const” is.

Regards,
	Ryan Joseph