C++ in the kernel

[Alfred Perlstein]

* Maciej Sobczak <prog at msobczak.com> [071030 15:55] wrote:
> Alfred Perlstein wrote:
> 
> >I think the right thing to do here is to identify the things we
> >need added to C++ and propose those to the standards.
> 
> I think you got it completely backwards.
> 
> First a bit of context - the C++ standard committee is already in deep 
> sht^H^H^Hwork to get the current proposals straight and ship the new 
> standard revision, which is already late. No new proposals are accepted, 
> unless they save the world.
> Considering the usual rythm of standardization process, the next chance 
> to add anything to C++ will be at the end of the next decade. FreeBSD 
> might be already dead till that time with Linux overtaking whatever is 
> left from the community.
> 
> You should reverse your thinking and instead ask yourself: what parts 
> and elements of *current* C++ might be useful for kernel development?
> If you identify them you can actually benefit from adapting them.
> If not, abandon the idea altogether and continue the current way.
> If you try to do anything else, you will only waste resources.

I agree that we can use what's currently in C++, additional things
we can hack in ourselves and/or propose in the meanwhile.

> Actually, C++ is being used in embedded and real-time systems as well as 
> for signal processing, so apparently there *are* some communities that 
> already gained experience with constrained use of the language. 
> Presumably some of the constraints that these people face are also valid 
> in the kernel world, and presumably some of the solutions might be 
> successfully reused.
> Don't reinvent!

Yes.

-- 
- Alfred Perlstein