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

On 09/07/2024 18:22, Ben Bacarisse wrote:
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bart <bc@freeuk.com> writes:
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On 09/07/2024 16:58, Ben Bacarisse wrote:
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bart <bc@freeuk.com> writes:
>

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

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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.

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

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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.

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Little about C's type system is simple.  You're doing your students a
disservice if you try and hide all the quirks.