C is the ultimate WYSIWYG language (provided you understand the semantics of your target architecture and assuming a non-buggy compiler). The language is relatively simple. The standard is accessible. I’d like it to remain that way. I don’t need C to adopt any other “modern” language features.
C11 provided a few worthwhile improvements (i.e., a proper memory model, alignment specification, standardized anonymous structures/unions), but so many of the other additions, suggestions, and proposals I’ve seen will just ruin the minimal nature of C. In C++, a simple statement like `a = b++;` can mean multiple constructors being called, hidden allocations, unexpected exceptions, unclear object hierarchies, an overloaded `++`, an overloaded `=`, etc. Every time I wish I had some C++ feature in C, I just think about the cognitive overhead it’d bring with it, slap myself a couple times, and go back to loving simple ole C.
Please don’t ruin C.
C11 provided a few worthwhile improvements (i.e., a proper memory model, alignment specification, standardized anonymous structures/unions), but so many of the other additions, suggestions, and proposals I’ve seen will just ruin the minimal nature of C. In C++, a simple statement like `a = b++;` can mean multiple constructors being called, hidden allocations, unexpected exceptions, unclear object hierarchies, an overloaded `++`, an overloaded `=`, etc. Every time I wish I had some C++ feature in C, I just think about the cognitive overhead it’d bring with it, slap myself a couple times, and go back to loving simple ole C.
Please don’t ruin C.