On 05.04.2018 8:35, Michael Van Canneyt wrote:
Now, it is also correct that the compiler developers are aware that
many people rely on this implementation detail.
Since when is documented behavior considered as "implementation
detail"? This is not an implementation detail. It is in official
documentation.
You and I know very well that this is an implementation detail, needed
for internal bookkeeping of the compiler. That the delphi manual states
otherwise, I have always considered a grave error on their part:
It contradicts one of the core tenets of pascal - see below.
Huh, no, I don't know this is an implementation detail. For me the
initialization rules always were:
1.) Global variables are initialized. (Why is simple global variables
initialization needed for internal bookkeeping of the compiler?)
2.) Class fields are initialized. (Why is simple class fields
initialization needed for internal bookkeeping of the compiler?)
3.) Everything else is not initialized.
Yes, I have always relied on both 1.+2. For me both points 1.+2. are
well documented and wanted behavior. Isn't it so?
About point 3: your very own docs state otherwise for managed types (see
my initial email in this thread) and I was surprised to read it. I am
not aware the Delphi manual states anything about initializing managed
types. AFAIK Delphi manual states that the compiler itself cares about
memory management automatically but it doesn't state anything about when
initialization or finalization must happen. It doesn't state local
managed variables are initialized to empty string/nil in particular.
Until now I have never relied on implicitely initialized local
variables. Your very own docs document the guaranteed local managed
variable initialization, not Delphi's. If you say it is an
implementation detail, you must delete it from the docs. For me the
"grave error" is on FPC's side and not Delphi's.
Ondrej
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