Using C++ in GCC is OK

[Robert Dewar]

Steinar Bang wrote:
>>>>>> Mark Mitchell <mark@codesourcery.com>:
> 
>> I think virtual functions are on the edge; quite useful, but do result
>> in the compiler adding a pointer to data objects and in uninlinable
>> indirect calls at run-time.  Therefore, I would avoid them in the
>> initial subset of C++ used in GCC.
> 
> Umm...?  Virtual functions are _the_ core C++ feature for creating OO
> frameworks.
> 
> Allowing C++ but avoiding virtual functions seems odd to me.

Not at all, data abstraction and inheritance do not depend on
virtual functions. You can do a lot without allowing dynamic
dispatching. Of course there are some cases where dynamic
dispatching makes things easier, but to regard it as *the*
core feature of C++ seems dubious to me (the STL in general
relies on templates, but not dynamic dispatching as far as
I know).