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

Bart <bc@freeuk.com> writes:

On 15/08/2024 09:43, Tim Rentsch wrote:
>

Bart <bc@freeuk.com> writes:
>
[on comparing array arguments in C with call-by-reference]
>

[...] the differences [between C rules and true call-by-reference]
can be summarised here;  [...]
>
                                  Call     Array access in callee
>
     C call-by-value              F(A)     A[i]
>
     true call-by-reference       H(A)     A[i]
>
What the user has to write is what's important, and here it is clear
that they write the same thing [in the two cases shown].

>
The comparison above is misleading because it is incomplete.
Let's compare the two modes more fully:
>
>
                         C call-by-value         call-by-reference
                         ===============         =================
   at call:
>
     (array argument)    F(A)                    H(A)
>
     (pointer argument)  F(p)                    (disallowed)

>
My posts were about passing *arrays* and the fact that C's
pass-by-value was remarkably similar to pass-by-reference.

I see.  So your point is, if we ignore all the ways that the two
modes are different then they are exactly the same.

Brilliant deduction, Dr. Watson.