Hi, I hope you don't mind my comment as I an not a project member, just a long term multi-platform GCC user. With all due respect, I fail to understand the decision to switch to C++ without being able to elucidate the specific features of C++ that will benefit the GCC team and the GCC compiler collection. It seems to me that outlining the specific advantages to both the compiler and development team of using C++ over C would be step one in defining what is and is not to be allowed. (I'm sure there is such a document, but I haven't been able to find it.)
To begin, what are the specific reasons or advantages for switching to C++ for the GCC compiler? Will C++ produce faster or more efficient code and if so how and using what specific constructs? Will using C++ produce less buggy code and, again, if so how and using what specific constructs. And so forth. Each specific reason for using C++ over C should have clear and definable benefits for both current and future developers and product; each of these benefits should form the basis for the coding standards for the GCC project. One final note: it is my experience that having developers not using the tool/product they are developing reduces product quality dramatically. For the one cent my two cents is worth, the C front end should be written in C, the C++ front end should be written in C++ and so forth. Thanks again to the whole compiler team for the great work and great products. Rich Wallick 19255 NW North Star Dr. Banks, OR 97016 503 324 9189
