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From: leech@zeta.cs.unc.edu (Jonathan Leech)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c++
Subject: Re: Should C++ follow C's footsteps?
Message-ID: <6756@thorin.cs.unc.edu>
Date: 15 Feb 89 14:15:56 GMT
References: <4800051@m.cs.uiuc.edu> <2677@munnari.oz>
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Reply-To: leech@zeta.UUCP (Jonathan Leech)
Organization: University Of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
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In article <2677@munnari.oz> muller@munnari.oz (Paul Muller) writes:
>In article <4800051@m.cs.uiuc.edu>, wsmith@m.cs.uiuc.edu writes:
>> I think it is time for C++ to be emancipated from backward compatability
>> with C at the source level.
>I gather from what you are saying that the downward compatibility of the C++
>language with its PREDECESSOR is indesirable?

    Such downward compatibility does not exist for many complex old-C
programs, for both language and implementation (cfront) reasons. Given
that old-C compatibility is already incomplete, it's reasonable to
relax compatibility restrictions more significantly if it allows
desirable new capabilities in C++.
--
    Jon Leech (leech@cs.unc.edu)    __@/
    "Totally bounded: A set that can be patrolled by a finite number
     of arbitrarily near-sighted policemen."    A. Wilonsky, 1978