[cfe-dev] ObjC++ and MyObjCClass.class syntax

[Douglas Gregor]

On Aug 11, 2010, at 11:11 AM, Jean-Daniel Dupas wrote:

> You can't use class as a property name or as an ivar name in objc++
> 
> This extension is just to be able to write for example:
> 
> [obj isKindOfClass:NSString.class] 
> 
> instead of 
> 
> [obj isKindOfClass:[NSString class]]
> 
> 
> As the +(Class)class method is defined on NSObject, this syntax may virtually be used by any ObjC class.
> 
> I know this syntax is "abusing" the new property syntax as it uses it to call a standard accessor method (not defined as a property), but this kind of "abuse" is supported for all other accessors name and g++ support it for 'class', so it may be worth supporting it too.
> 
> Here is a test case accepted by g++ but rejected by clang:
> ---------------------------------
> @interface I {
> int cls;
> }
> 
> + (int)class;
> 
> @end
> 
> @implementation  I
> - (int) Meth { return I.class; }
> @end
> ---------------------------------


We decided not to support this idiom in Clang++. It's too horrible for words, and [NSString class] is a suitable formulation that will work.

	- Doug