Re: technology discussion → does the world need a "new" C ?

bart <bc@freeuk.com> writes:

On 09/07/2024 18:22, Ben Bacarisse wrote:

bart <bc@freeuk.com> writes:
 

On 09/07/2024 16:58, Ben Bacarisse wrote:

bart <bc@freeuk.com> writes:
>

Arrays are passed by reference:
>
    void F(int a[20]) {}
>
    int main(void) {
      int x[20];
      F(x);
    }

This is the sort of thing that bad tutors say to students so that they
never learn C properly.  All parameter passing in C is by value.  All of
it.  You just have to know (a) what the syntax means and (b) what values
get passed.

>
The end result is that a parameter declared with value-array syntax is
passed using a reference rather than by value.
>
And it does so because the language says, not because the ABI requires
it. A 2-byte array is also passed by reference.

An address value is passed by value.  C has only one parameter passing
mechanism.  You can spin it as much as you like, but C's parameter
passing is simple to understand, provided learner tune out voices like
yours.

>
Little about C's type system is simple.

Parameter passing is relatively simple though since there is only one
mechanism -- pass by value.

You're doing your students a
disservice if you try and hide all the quirks.

If.  Always with the if.  There are lots of things I don't do that would
be doing my students a disservice were I to do them.  Beautiful spin!

--
Ben.