Re: Using C++ in GCC is OK

[Rich Wallick <rwallick at gmail dot com>]

Hi,

  I hope you don't mind my comment as I an not a project member, just a
long term multi-platform GCC user.  With all due respect, I fail to
understand the decision to switch to C++ without being able to elucidate
the specific features of C++ that will benefit the GCC team and the GCC
compiler collection.  It seems to me that outlining the specific
advantages to both the compiler and development team of using C++ over
C  would be step one in defining what is and is not to be allowed. (I'm
sure there is such a document, but I haven't been able to find it.)

  To begin, what are the specific reasons or advantages for switching
to C++  for the GCC compiler?  Will C++ produce faster or more efficient
code and if so how and using what specific constructs?  Will using C++
produce less buggy code and, again, if so how and using what specific
constructs.  And so forth.  Each specific reason for using C++ over C
should have clear and definable benefits for both current and future
developers and product; each of these benefits should form the basis for
the coding standards for the GCC project.

  One final note: it is my experience that having developers not using
the tool/product they are developing reduces product quality
dramatically.  For the one cent my two cents is worth, the C front end
should be written in C, the C++ front end should be written in C++ and
so forth.

Thanks again to the whole compiler team for the great work and great
products.

Rich Wallick
19255 NW North Star Dr.
Banks, OR 97016
503 324 9189