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submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by armchair_progamer@programming.dev to c/programming_languages@programming.dev

From the page:

My aim is to produce a superset of C++ that has a rigorously safe subset. Start a new project, or take an existing one, and write safe code in C++. Code written in the safety context exhibits the same strong safety guarantees as safe code programmed in Rust. Indeed, lifetime safety is enforced statically with borrow checking, the signature safety technology first introduced in Rust

...

What properties characterize Safe C++?

  • A superset of C++ with a safe subset. Undefined behavior is prohibited from originating in the safe subset.
  • The safe and unsafe parts of the language are clearly delineated, and users must explicitly leave the safe context to use unsafe operations.
  • The safe subset must remain useful. If we get rid of a crucial unsafe technology, like unions or pointers, we should supply a safe alternative, like choice types or borrows. A perfectly safe language is not useful if it's so inexpressive you can't get your work done.
  • The new system can't break existing code. If you point a Safe C++ compiler at existing C++ code, that code must compile normally. Users opt into the new safety mechanisms. Safe C++ is an extension of C++. It's not a new language.
#feature on safety
#include "std2.h"

int main() safe {
  std2::vector<int> vec { 11, 15, 20 };

  for(int x : vec) {
    // Ill-formed. mutate of vec invalidates iterator in ranged-for.
    if(x % 2)
      vec^.push_back(x);

    unsafe printf("%d\n", x);
  }
}
$ circle iter3.cxx
safety: iter3.cxx:10:10
      vec^.push_back(x);
         ^
mutable borrow of vec between its shared borrow and its use
loan created at iter3.cxx:7:15
  for(int x : vec) {
              ^

A couple other languages aiming to create a "C++ successor" which is fully interoperable with C++ (analogous to TypeScript and JavaScript):

  • Carbon: an entirely new language which compiles straight to LLVM, but still strives to be highly interoperable with C++. Its goal is to add "modern" features: new syntax, parametric polymorphism, as well as removing C++'s backwards-compatibility quirks.
    • It has a section on memory safety which mentions a "safe Carbon subset". But this is a longer-term goal, whereas it's the main goal of Circle.
  • Cpp2: an alternate syntax for C++. It compiles to C++, but makes new features such as modules and concepts less verbose, while hiding or removing backwards-compatibility quirks (e.g. lists are std::array and string literals are std::string).
    • 100% memory safety is a non-goal: AFAIK it doesn't do static analysis and syntactic rewrites alone aren't powerful enough to enforce it.

Compared to the other languages, Circle remains closest to C++. The other languages try to fix other C++ "problems"; Circle's only goal is to fix memory unsafety, and otherwise keep syntax and semantics the same for maximum interoperability.

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[-] anton@lemmy.blahaj.zone 19 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

That's why I keep this image in my back pocket:

It may not directly create sensible debate, but it conters the thought terminating effect of the xkcd.

Edit: new link to the image

[-] ananas@sopuli.xyz 5 points 5 months ago

I'm going to steal this.

[-] b_van_b@programming.dev 5 points 5 months ago

What's the image? I just get an error message.

[-] anton@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 5 months ago

It's the "We Should Improve Society Somewhat" meme with society replaced with technology and the answer replaced with the xkcd.

https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/2705714-we-should-improve-society-somewhat

[-] icesentry@programming.dev 2 points 5 months ago

Now I'm just curious if that was intentional.

[-] anton@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 5 months ago

No, my instance was down.

this post was submitted on 03 Jun 2024
33 points (100.0% liked)

Programming Languages

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