Option to accept double colon ::

[BFG10K]

One of the few things I miss from C++ is the scope resolution operator :: which makes it really easy to distinguish between variable names and namespaces.

Under the hood all it needs to be is a plain C underscore, but this doesn't work (invalid identifier):

Code Select Expand

#define :: _
Or perhaps just a compiler extension convert :: to _ included with the /Zx switch.

[John Z]

Hi BFG10K.

Fortunately this is not C++ 

The best way to accommodate :: is to use the the replace feature, only takes one
addition step one time if the sources initially contain the ::


John Z

[Quin]

Giving this feature request a +1. The only use case I see for this in C is, for example, accessing a global variable with the same name as a local. No need for actual namespaces, classes, or any of the other features C++ tacks on that are cool but frankly scare me as someone who likes knowing exactly what my code is doing

Code Select Expand

int a = 128;
int main() {
    int a = 256;
    int b = ::a; // 128
}


[Pelle]

Again, this is a C compiler. If you want C++ features you should use a C++ compiler.

[Quin]

Again, this is a C compiler. If you want C++ features you should use a C++ compiler.

To be fair, weren't optional arguments originally a C++ feature too? I for my part see nothing wrong with adding enhancements to the C language as Pelles extensions, even if they are rooted in C++, but it is your compiler and I respect your choice

[Pelle]

To be fair, weren't optional arguments originally a C++ feature too?

Yes, optional arguments are from C++ and was the first extension added to Pelles C (a long time ago). I have regretted this extension for many years (it was a fairly small change from the start, but has grown over the years along with the compiler). It's too late to deprecate and remove it.

I'm not a fan of language extensions in general: they tend to lock you into a specific compiler. I have no interest in a full C++ compiler, and any kind of subset will most likely be the wrong one.
These days I can accept things like GNU C extensions, but a completely different language like C++ should really be handled by a completely different compiler.