From -4046621554840956394 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: f78e5,be4e234b6733532 X-Google-Attributes: gidf78e5,public From: Tim Ottinger Subject: Re: why are pointers necessary? Date: 1997/07/29 Message-ID: <33D80C4E.C7157E19@oma.com>#1/1 X-Deja-AN: 260223093 References: <5r57bp$15j2$3@news.rchland.ibm.com> X-Original-Date: Thu, 24 Jul 1997 21:15:43 -0500 X-Priority: 3 (Normal) Organization: Object Mentor, Inc X-Auth: PGPMoose V1.1 PGP comp.std.c++ iQBVAwUBM94Y+ky4NqrwXLNJAQGS4QH/d5EL+kuiv8AWbwiLuorNaEpUUuF5VWKq gKhPKhqHlEf8zIFKRI1g/8SSuEsatub8mKqZkI3E/RHOTYJ1ETsMrg== =bX5q Reply-To: tottinge@oma.com Newsgroups: comp.std.c++ Originator: austern@isolde.mti.sgi.com > |> Get a book about algorithms, and look up linked lists, trees, > graphs, > |> etc. > > All of which are possible without literal pointers. Java gets by just > > fine without pointers. Of course in most cases the construct you use > instead of pointers (i.e., references) really are pointers "under > the covers" but the compiler worries about the details instead of you. Well, that's not really true. Everything in Java is a pointer. What java gets by just fine without is pointer *arithmetic*. But the real reason pointers are necessary is that they're the most efficient built-in iterators for the built-in array types, they are used as handles to dynamically allocated memory, and they're the only nullable references we have. Oh, and because millions of C programs depend on them. Solve the first three (well) and you still have the fourth. Compatibility is a two-edged sword. It really promotes the language, and provides a migration path. But it also restricts the kinds of solutions which may be applied. Hey, it's not a perfect language. It is a useful language, though. It also doesn't mean that there aren't some Java features which are more attractive than the C++ equivalents. Java is a useful language, and becoming moreso all the time. By saying good things about C++ I am definitely not putting down java. I like both, so far (not doing work in Java yet). Tim --- [ comp.std.c++ is moderated. To submit articles: Try just posting with your newsreader. If that fails, use mailto:std-c++@ncar.ucar.edu comp.std.c++ FAQ: http://reality.sgi.com/austern/std-c++/faq.html Moderation policy: http://reality.sgi.com/austern/std-c++/policy.html Comments? mailto:std-c++-request@ncar.ucar.edu ]