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0 pointspregnenolone1d ago0 comments

Language design isn't just about adding every possible feature. For example, someone mentioned operator overloading. As someone who has written a lot of Scala, I think operator overloading would be a very bad feature for an enterprise language like Java which needs to be consistent above all else. I never understood the obsession some people have with the C# vs Java debate anyway. Generally, both languages are very good at what they do, each having its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Regardless, a developer can pick up the other language with basically no effort.

0 comments

xigoi1d ago

> I think operator overloading would be a very bad feature for an enterprise language like Java which needs to be consistent above all else.

Operator overloading increases consistency. Instead of having

  int a = b + c;
  CustomNumberType x = y.add(z);

you have

  int a = b + c;
  CustomNumberType x = y + z;

fragmede1d ago

The problem with operator overloading is it makes things confusing when mixing types and let's programmers write confusing code.

    Person x;
    Job y;
    CustomType z = x + y;

WTF is Z?

Is the argument, anyway, I support operator overloading.

joe_mwangi22h ago

Java’s planned approach is more like typeclass-style interfaces than unrestricted operator overloading. Types opt into core-defined operator contracts, rather than every library inventing arbitrary meanings for symbols.

xigoi1d ago

> WTF is Z?

Hopefully a type error, because no sane programmer would implement addition like this. Obviously an insane programmer could, but that’s not the fault of operator overloading. The following code is exactly as confusing:

    Person x;
    Job y;
    CustomType z = add(x, y);

tpxl1d ago

I don't know; you can bit shift an output stream by a string (or char array) in C++ (std::cout << "Hello, world!"). That seems pretty mad to me.

1 more reply

bonesss23h ago

> WTF is Z?

Take a person, add a job, you get an Employee or EmployedPerson. Person.add(job).

I agree overloading can create footguns, but domain concepts should make a lot of sense in context when basic arithmetic operations are performed on them. Party = Meeting + Booze.

Custom operators are a big assistance for DSLs, and overloading can also aide their creation and elegance. Part of the “awesome but don’t be a jerk about it” toolbox.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

xigoi1d ago

> I think operator overloading would be a very bad feature for an enterprise language like Java which needs to be consistent above all else.

Operator overloading increases consistency. Instead of having

  int a = b + c;
  CustomNumberType x = y.add(z);

you have

  int a = b + c;
  CustomNumberType x = y + z;

fragmede1d ago

The problem with operator overloading is it makes things confusing when mixing types and let's programmers write confusing code.

    Person x;
    Job y;
    CustomType z = x + y;

WTF is Z?

Is the argument, anyway, I support operator overloading.

joe_mwangi22h ago

xigoi1d ago

> WTF is Z?

    Person x;
    Job y;
    CustomType z = add(x, y);

tpxl1d ago

I don't know; you can bit shift an output stream by a string (or char array) in C++ (std::cout << "Hello, world!"). That seems pretty mad to me.

1 more reply

bonesss23h ago

> WTF is Z?

Take a person, add a job, you get an Employee or EmployedPerson. Person.add(job).

I agree overloading can create footguns, but domain concepts should make a lot of sense in context when basic arithmetic operations are performed on them. Party = Meeting + Booze.

Custom operators are a big assistance for DSLs, and overloading can also aide their creation and elegance. Part of the “awesome but don’t be a jerk about it” toolbox.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse