PR15809 and pointer array aliassing

[Steve Kargl]

On Fri, Nov 25, 2005 at 02:54:17PM +0100, Paul THOMAS wrote:
> 
> I believe that it is correct to say that array aliassing
> could be introduced gradually to gfortran by adding a
> target size field to array descriptors that could be ignored
> in the first instance. Then, the step could taken of setting
> its value in each of the above situations (+ others ?). Finally,
> the users of array descriptors could be modified to make use of
> this new field. If we proceed in this fashion, I rather think
> that this feature could be added to gfortran painlessly; ie.
> each stage could be extensively regtested and tested "in the
> field" before proceeding to the next.
> 
> Any comments?

You've looked at issues with derived types more than I.
I can't see how adding a new field to the array descriptor
to pass additional information is a bad thing.  You've
shown at least 4 bugs that this new field will help fix,
and I'm guess there are other hidden bugs involving 
pointer, target, and derived types.

-- 
Steve