A new WG21 paper is available. A copy is linked below, and the paper will also appear in the next normal WG21 mailing. If you are not a committee member, please use the comments section below or the std-proposals forum for public discussion.

Document number: N3810

Date: 2013-10-13

Alternatives for Array Extensions

by Bjarne Stroustrup

Excerpt:

The most important aspect of an “array alternative” is that it enables simple and efficient use of a run-time-specified amount of stack storage and provides an alternative to the traditional problems of “lost” size and “lost” type that make direct use of arrays error-prone.

Here, I will record some reflections based on the array/dynarray discussions at the Chicago meeting with some brief analysis of the alternatives as a start of a discussion. I consider a resolution urgently needed. We need arrays with run-time-specified bounds and safer access to such storage “yesterday.”