Re: [9fans] "Blocks" in C

[Uriel <uriel99@gmail.com>]

On Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 4:20 PM, Devon H. O'Dell<devon.odell@gmail.com> wrote:
> 2009/9/2 Uriel <uriel99@gmail.com>:
>> On Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 10:04 AM, Anant Narayanan<anant@kix.in> wrote:
>>> Mac OS 10.6 introduced a new C compiler frontend (clang), which added
>>> support for "blocks" in C [1]. Blocks basically add closures and anonymous
>>> functions to C (and it's derivatives). Full details with examples are in the
>>> linked article. I think the feature is quite elegant and might be useful in
>>> cases where you want map/reduce like functionality in C.
>>
>> Er., I might be more dumb than usual, but why on earth would you
>> need/want this garbage to get map/reduce functionality in C?
>>
>> To me it seems the typical "lets come up with some cute 'feature' and
>> then we will figure out how to hype ourselves all the way to hell".
>
> I don't see why you'd particularly need / want this in C, but the
> argument here seems silly given that you've stressed your affinity to
> other languages that implement closures / anonymous functions.

My affinity is to language that display *conceptual integrity*.


> In any case, implementing closures in C isn't too difficult, and if
> you want to return a function, just return a pointer to it.

Exactly, I still fail to understand the point of this "feature",
function points have worked fine for ages, but then I never understood
any religion, and that is what Apple seems to be all about.

Peace

uriel