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digitalmars.D.learn - exit() to end a function

reply bearophile <bearophileHUGS lycos.com> writes:
A small D2 function:

import std.c.stdlib: exit;
int foo(int x) {
    if (x > 0)
        return x;
    exit(0);
    //assert(0);
}
void main() {}


DMD 2.051 gives this compile-time error:
test.d(2): Error: function test4.foo no return exp; or assert(0); at end of
function

If I comment out the the final exit(0) and uncomment the assert(0), the code
compiles correctly.
Is it meaningful and good to give std.c.stdlib.exit the same function-end
semantics of assert(0)?

GCC has a "noreturn" function attribute that allows to tell the compiler what
functions (beside few default ones like exit) don't return:
http://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc/Function-Attributes.html#index-g_t_0040code_007bnoreturn_007d-function-attribute-2464

Bye,
bearophile
Feb 12 2011
parent reply Jonathan M Davis <jmdavisProg gmx.com> writes:
On Saturday 12 February 2011 14:03:09 bearophile wrote:
 A small D2 function:
 
 import std.c.stdlib: exit;
 int foo(int x) {
     if (x > 0)
         return x;
     exit(0);
     //assert(0);
 }
 void main() {}
 
 
 DMD 2.051 gives this compile-time error:
 test.d(2): Error: function test4.foo no return exp; or assert(0); at end of
 function
 
 If I comment out the the final exit(0) and uncomment the assert(0), the
 code compiles correctly. Is it meaningful and good to give
 std.c.stdlib.exit the same function-end semantics of assert(0)?
 
 GCC has a "noreturn" function attribute that allows to tell the compiler
 what functions (beside few default ones like exit) don't return:
 http://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc/Function-Attributes.html#index-g_t_0040c
 ode_007bnoreturn_007d-function-attribute-2464
The problem is that we have no way to indicate that a function will never return. So, even if it's a function like exit which kills the program or a function which always throws, the compiler doesn't know that the next statement will never be executed. As such, it requires the assert(0). Considering that exit really isn't something that you should be calling normally, I don't think that there's much value in complicating dmd just for it. There would be some value to having an attribute which indicated that a function never returns under any circumstances (likely since it always throws), but that wouldn't help exit any, since it's a C function and wouldn't have the attribute. Regardless, I see little value in complicating dmd even a little bit more just so that you don't have to insert an extra assert(0) after exit - particularly when very few programs call exit, and very few should. Generally, something is horrendously wrong if exit is being called, and there's probably a better way to handle it. - Jonathan M Davis
Feb 12 2011
parent reply "Steven Schveighoffer" <schveiguy yahoo.com> writes:
On Sat, 12 Feb 2011 17:48:56 -0500, Jonathan M Davis <jmdavisProg gmx.com>  
wrote:

 There would be some value to having an attribute which indicated that a  
 function
 never returns under any circumstances (likely since it always throws),  
 but that
 wouldn't help exit any, since it's a C function and wouldn't have the  
 attribute.
The bindings to C can be attributed as we see fit. A C symbol is not mangled, and so you can attach any attributes you want (you can even change the number and types of parameters).
 Regardless, I see little value in complicating dmd even a little bit  
 more just
 so that you don't have to insert an extra assert(0) after exit -  
 particularly
 when very few programs call exit, and very few should.
I agree with this.
 Generally, something is
 horrendously wrong if exit is being called, and there's probably a  
 better way to
 handle it.
I don't agree with this, exit has its valid uses. -Steve
Feb 14 2011
next sibling parent spir <denis.spir gmail.com> writes:
On 02/14/2011 03:12 PM, Steven Schveighoffer wrote:
 On Sat, 12 Feb 2011 17:48:56 -0500, Jonathan M Davis <jmdavisProg gmx.com>
wrote:

 There would be some value to having an attribute which indicated that a
function
 never returns under any circumstances (likely since it always throws), but that
 wouldn't help exit any, since it's a C function and wouldn't have the
attribute.
The bindings to C can be attributed as we see fit. A C symbol is not mangled, and so you can attach any attributes you want (you can even change the number and types of parameters).
 Regardless, I see little value in complicating dmd even a little bit more just
 so that you don't have to insert an extra assert(0) after exit - particularly
 when very few programs call exit, and very few should.
I agree with this.
 Generally, something is
 horrendously wrong if exit is being called, and there's probably a better way
to
 handle it.
I don't agree with this, exit has its valid uses.
Agree with Steven. All my modules hold: import core.stdc.stdlib : exit; // debug tool func void stop () { exit(0); } Denis -- _________________ vita es estrany spir.wikidot.com
Feb 14 2011
prev sibling parent reply Jonathan M Davis <jmdavisProg gmx.com> writes:
On Monday 14 February 2011 06:12:56 Steven Schveighoffer wrote:
 On Sat, 12 Feb 2011 17:48:56 -0500, Jonathan M Davis <jmdavisProg gmx.com>
 
 wrote:
 There would be some value to having an attribute which indicated that a
 function
 never returns under any circumstances (likely since it always throws),
 but that
 wouldn't help exit any, since it's a C function and wouldn't have the
 attribute.
The bindings to C can be attributed as we see fit. A C symbol is not mangled, and so you can attach any attributes you want (you can even change the number and types of parameters).
 Regardless, I see little value in complicating dmd even a little bit
 more just
 so that you don't have to insert an extra assert(0) after exit -
 particularly
 when very few programs call exit, and very few should.
I agree with this.
 Generally, something is
 horrendously wrong if exit is being called, and there's probably a
 better way to
 handle it.
I don't agree with this, exit has its valid uses.
Well, I agree that it has its valid uses, but I think that such uses are quite rare. You shouldn't normally be writing programs that choose to essentially just die in the middle of their execution. - Jonathan M Davis
Feb 14 2011
parent reply "Steven Schveighoffer" <schveiguy yahoo.com> writes:
On Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:19:24 -0500, Jonathan M Davis <jmdavisProg gmx.com>  
wrote:

 On Monday 14 February 2011 06:12:56 Steven Schveighoffer wrote:
 On Sat, 12 Feb 2011 17:48:56 -0500, Jonathan M Davis  
 <jmdavisProg gmx.com>

 wrote:
 There would be some value to having an attribute which indicated that  
a
 function
 never returns under any circumstances (likely since it always throws),
 but that
 wouldn't help exit any, since it's a C function and wouldn't have the
 attribute.
The bindings to C can be attributed as we see fit. A C symbol is not mangled, and so you can attach any attributes you want (you can even change the number and types of parameters).
 Regardless, I see little value in complicating dmd even a little bit
 more just
 so that you don't have to insert an extra assert(0) after exit -
 particularly
 when very few programs call exit, and very few should.
I agree with this.
 Generally, something is
 horrendously wrong if exit is being called, and there's probably a
 better way to
 handle it.
I don't agree with this, exit has its valid uses.
Well, I agree that it has its valid uses, but I think that such uses are quite rare. You shouldn't normally be writing programs that choose to essentially just die in the middle of their execution.
The most common case I can think of is usage errors. Typically, a usage function prints the usage and then exits the program. This can be done differently, but it's not "wrong" to do it that way. -Steve
Feb 14 2011
parent spir <denis.spir gmail.com> writes:
On 02/14/2011 05:39 PM, Steven Schveighoffer wrote:
 On Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:19:24 -0500, Jonathan M Davis <jmdavisProg gmx.com>
wrote:

 On Monday 14 February 2011 06:12:56 Steven Schveighoffer wrote:
 On Sat, 12 Feb 2011 17:48:56 -0500, Jonathan M Davis <jmdavisProg gmx.com>

 wrote:
 There would be some value to having an attribute which indicated that a
 function
 never returns under any circumstances (likely since it always throws),
 but that
 wouldn't help exit any, since it's a C function and wouldn't have the
 attribute.
The bindings to C can be attributed as we see fit. A C symbol is not mangled, and so you can attach any attributes you want (you can even change the number and types of parameters).
 Regardless, I see little value in complicating dmd even a little bit
 more just
 so that you don't have to insert an extra assert(0) after exit -
 particularly
 when very few programs call exit, and very few should.
I agree with this.
 Generally, something is
 horrendously wrong if exit is being called, and there's probably a
 better way to
 handle it.
I don't agree with this, exit has its valid uses.
Well, I agree that it has its valid uses, but I think that such uses are quite rare. You shouldn't normally be writing programs that choose to essentially just die in the middle of their execution.
The most common case I can think of is usage errors. Typically, a usage function prints the usage and then exits the program. This can be done differently, but it's not "wrong" to do it that way.
Exactly the way I use it :-) Sometimes test suite are not enough, esp when the flow control is complicated and/or cascading. Instead of heavy use of a debugger, I "plant' 1-2-3 writelines on the way, one exit, & run! Then i move back or forth. There are a few precious features which, imo, have nothing to do with app logics, and make the whole difference between an usable and an unusable language. (write*, exit, literals...) Denis -- _________________ vita es estrany spir.wikidot.com
Feb 14 2011