Version 1.13 of ais/ai-00231.txt

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!standard 3.10 (06)          04-01-10 AI95-00231/08
!standard 3.2.3 (03)
!standard 3.2.3 (05)
!standard 3.7 (05)
!standard 3.7 (09)
!standard 3.10 (02)
!standard 3.10 (12)
!standard 3.10 (13)
!standard 3.10 (14/1)
!standard 3.10 (15)
!standard 4.2 (07)
!standard 4.6 (49)
!standard 4.6 (51)
!standard 4.9.1 (02)
!standard 6.1 (15)
!standard 6.1 (23)
!standard 6.1 (24)
!standard 8.5.1 (04)
!standard 8.6 (25)
!standard 12.5.1 (10)
!standard 12.5.4 (04)
!class amendment 00-04-13
!status Amendment 200Y 04-01-09
!status ARG Approved 10-0-1 03-12-13
!status work item 00-04-13
!status received 00-04-13
!priority Medium
!difficulty Hard
!subject Access-to-constant parameters and null-excluding access subtypes
!summary
Parameters and discriminants of an anonymous access-to-constant type are introduced. Non-controlling access parameters and access discriminants are changed to allow having a null value by default, but allow null to be excluded explicitly. Null-excluding subtypes of a named access type are introduced.
!problem
(See discussion.)
!proposal
Change non-controlling access parameters and access discriminants to allow them to have null values.
Introduce a "null exclusion," ("not null") and allow it on subtype indications, access type definitions, and access definitions. We don't call it a "constraint" because doing so creates various wording issues relating to "constrained" versus "unconstrained."
Generalize access_definition to allow specification of access-to-constant, and a null exclusion.
!wording
Replace paragraph 3.2.2(3) with:
subtype_indication ::= [null_exclusion] subtype_mark [scalar_constraint | composite_constraint]
Delete paragraph 3.2.2(5).
Modify 3.7(5) to:
discriminant_specification ::= defining_identifier_list : [null_exclusion] subtype_mark [:= default_expression] | defining_identifier_list : access_definition [:= default_expression]
Modify the first sentence of 3.7(9):
The subtype of a discriminant may be defined by {an optional null_exclusion and} a subtype_mark, in which case the subtype_mark shall denote a discrete or access subtype, .... is of an anonymous [general access-to-variable] {access} type [whose designated subtype is denoted by the subtype_mark of the access_definition].
Modify 3.10(2) to:
access_type_definition ::= [null_exclusion] access_to_object_definition | [null_exclusion] access_to_subprogram_definition
Modify 3.10(6) to:
null_exclusion ::= not null
access_definition ::= [null_exclusion] access [general_access_modifier] subtype_mark
Modify 3.10(12) to:
An access_definition defines an anonymous general access type; the subtype mark denotes its @i<designated subtype>. If the word @b<constant> appears, the type is an access-to-constant type; otherwise it is an access-to-variable type. If a null_exclusion is present, or the access_definition is for a controlling access parameter (see 3.9.2), the access_definition defines an access subtype which excludes the null value; otherwise the subtype includes a null value. An access_definition is used in the specification of an access discriminant (see 3.7) or an access parameter (see 6.1). [NOTE: Drop this last sentence if AI-230 is approved.]
AARM Note: Controlling access_definitions are null-excluding because it it necessary to read the tag to dispatch, and @b<null> has no tag. We would have preferred to require @b<not null> to be specified for such parameters, but that would have been too incompatible with Ada 95.
Modify 3.10(13) as follows:
For each [(named)] access type, there is [a literal NULL which has] a null access value designating no entity at all. The null value of [a named] {an} access type is the ... in the case of [a named] {an} access-to-object type, an allocator, which returns ...
Add the following sentence to the end of 3.10(14):
The first subtype of a type defined by an access_type_definition excludes the null value if a null_exclusion is present; otherwise, the first subtype includes the null value.
Modify 3.10(15) as follows:
A composite_constraint is compatible with an unconstrained access subtype if it is compatible with the designated subtype. {A null_exclusion is compatible with an access subtype if the subtype includes a null value.} An access value satisfies a composite_constraint of an access subtype if it equals the null value of its type or if it designates an object whose value satisfies the constraint. {An access value satisifes a null_exclusion imposed on an access subtype if it does not equal the null value of its type.}
Delete paragraph 4.2(7) which says that anonymous access types don't have a null value.
Replace 4.6(49) with:
If the operand value is null, the result of the conversion is the null value of the target type.
Add to the end of 4.6(51):
If the target subtype excludes the null value, then a check is made that the value is not null.
Change 4.9.1(2):
A subtype statically matches another subtype of the same type if they have statically matching constraints{, and, for access subtypes, either both or neither exclude null}. Two anonymous access{-to-object} subtypes statically match if their designated subtypes statically match{, and either both or neither exclude null, and either both or neither are access-to-constant}.
Modify 6.1(15):
parameter_specification ::= defining_identifier_list : mode [null_exclusion] subtype_mark [:= default_expression] | defining_identifier_list : access_definition [:= default_expression ]
Modify 6.1(23):
The nominal subtype of a formal parameter is the subtype [denoted] {determined} by the {optional null_exclusion and the} subtype_mark, or defined by the access_definition, in the parameter_specification.
Modify 6.1(24):
.... An access parameter is of an anonymous [general access-to-variable] {access} type (see 3.10). ...
Add to the end of 8.5.1(4), if AI-230 is adopted:
In the case where the type is defined by an access_definition, the renamed entity shall be of an access-to-constant type if and only if the access_definition defines an access-to-constant type.
Modify 8.6(25):
* when T is an anonymous access{-to-object} type (see 3.10) with designated type D, to an access-to-[variable]{object} type whose designated type is D'Class or is covered by D{, and that is access-to-constant only if T is access-to-constant}.
Add after 12.5.1(10)
* If the ancestor subtype is an access subtype, the actual subtype shall exclude null if and only if the ancestor subtype excludes null.
Add to the end of 12.5.4(4):
If and only if the formal subtype excludes null, the actual subtype shall exclude null.
!example
type Non_Null_Ptr is not null access T;
procedure Show(X : Non_Null_Ptr);
-- X guaranteed to not be null
procedure Pass_By_Ref(Y : not null access constant Rec); -- Pass Y by reference, but don't allow it to be updated; -- Guarantee Y is non-null.
procedure Display(W : access Window; G : access constant Graph'Class); -- Allow any pointer to a graph to be passed to the window -- display routine; allow null to be passed as well.
!discussion
It is surprising that an access-to-constant parameter/discriminant is not available. There are several circumstances where such a parameter/discriminant would be appropriate:
As a controlling parameter of an operation that doesn't modify the
designated object.
As a way to force pass-by-reference when interfacing with a foreign
language, when the external operation does not update the designated object,
As a way to provide read-only access via a discriminant.
The rule disallowing "null" for access parameters and access discriminants has turned out to be confusing, and not what is wanted in all cases when interfacing with a foreign language. Therefore, we propose to define an explicit way to exclude nulls from an access subtype, and make "access T" and "access constant T" include nulls by default when not a controlling parameter, even though this does not preserve complete upward compatibility. Note that the only incompatibility is for cases where null was passed, and these would have been rejected at compile-time or have raised Constraint_Error. It was felt it was better to have this upward incompatibility than to have the default be null-excluding for "access T" but not null-excluding for "access constant T". Note that there is no upward incompatibility for controlling access parameters; they always have null-excluding subtypes. Any worrisome loss of efficiency due to allowing null for non-controlling access parameters, or access discriminants, can be reversed by using an explicit null_exclusion.
The general ability to specify an access subtype that excludes null for both named and anonymous access types can provide useful documentation and higher efficiency. This is especially true for parameters, by allowing the nullness check to be "pushed" to the caller, where it can be more likely removed.
What should be the default initialization of an object of a subtype that excludes null? It seems clear that the default is still null, and the initialization will raise Constraint_Error. Hence, objects of such a subtype will require explicit initialization. Perhaps a NOTE to this effect should be included in 3.10.
Note that the "all" in an access_definition is redundant, since anonymous access types are always considered "general" access types. However, it was felt more confusing to disallow use of "all" for anonymous access types, even though it has no effect.
We chose to require matching of null exclusion in generics. For formal derived types, static constraint matching was already the case for access subtypes. For formal access types, we claim that the paradigm of use for null-excluding access types differs dramatically from null-including access types, and hence it is not sensible to allow the formal and actual to differ on this dimension. It also significantly simplifies generic sharing if null exclusion is known statically.
Note that if one has a generic whose formal includes null, and one wants to reuse it with an access subtype that excludes null, you can do the instantiation using a null-including subtype of the same access type and accomplish the same level of reuse. The major advantage of this approach is that the generic can still declare default-initialized local variables of the access type, without bumping into the null exclusion. The instantiatior only cares about null exclusion when values are returned, and these checks would still be performed. Forcing the generic itself to operate internally obeying null exclusion would make it that much harder to reuse the generic.
[Note: In the !corrigendum wording below, we assume that AI-230 is also approved.]
!corrigendum 3.2.2(3)
Replace the paragraph:
subtype_indication ::= subtype_mark [constraint]
by:
subtype_indication ::= [null_exclusion] subtype_mark [scalar_constraint | composite_constraint]
!corrigendum 3.2.2(5)
Delete the paragraph:
constraint ::= scalar_constraint | composite_constraint
!corrigendum 3.7(5)
Replace the paragraph:
discriminant_specification ::= defining_identifier_list : subtype_mark [:= default_expression] | defining_identifier_list : access_definition [:= default_expression]
by:
discriminant_specification ::= defining_identifier_list : [null_exclusion] subtype_mark [:= default_expression] | defining_identifier_list : access_definition [:= default_expression]
!corrigendum 3.7(9)
Replace the paragraph:
The subtype of a discriminant may be defined by a subtype_mark, in which case the subtype_mark shall denote a discrete or access subtype, or it may be defined by an access_definition (in which case the subtype_mark of the access_definition may denote any kind of subtype). A discriminant that is defined by an access_definition is called an access discriminant and is of an anonymous general access-to-variable type whose designated subtype is denoted by the subtype_mark of the access_definition.
by:
The subtype of a discriminant may be defined by an optional null_exclusion and a subtype_mark, in which case the subtype_mark shall denote a discrete or access subtype, or it may be defined by an access_definition (in which case the subtype_mark of the access_definition may denote any kind of subtype). A discriminant that is defined by an access_definition is called an access discriminant and is of an anonymous access type.
!corrigendum 3.10(2)
Replace the paragraph:
access_type_definition ::= access_to_object_definition | access_to_subprogram_definition
by:
access_type_definition ::= [null_exclusion] access_to_object_definition | [null_exclusion] access_to_subprogram_definition
!corrigendum 3.10(6)
Replace the paragraph:
access_definition ::= access subtype_mark
by:
null_exclusion ::= not null access_definition ::= [null_exclusion] access [general_access_modifier] subtype_mark
!corrigendum 3.10(12)
Replace the paragraph:
An access_definition defines an anonymous general access-to-variable type; the subtype_mark denotes its designated subtype. An access_definition is used in the specification of an access discriminant (see 3.7) or an access parameter (see 6.1).
by:
An access_definition defines an anonymous general access type; the subtype_mark denotes its designated subtype. If the reserved word constant appears, the type is an access-to-constant type; otherwise it is an access-to-variable type. If a null_exclusion is present, or the access_definition is for a controlling access parameter (see 3.9.2), the access_definition defines an access subtype which excludes the null value; otherwise the subtype includes a null value.
!corrigendum 3.10(13)
Replace the paragraph:
For each (named) access type, there is a literal null which has a null access value designating no entity at all. The null value of a named access type is the default initial value of the type. Other values of an access type are obtained by evaluating an attribute_reference for the Access or Unchecked_Access attribute of an aliased view of an object or non-intrinsic subprogram, or, in the case of a named access-to-object type, an allocator, which returns an access value designating a newly created object (see 3.10.2).
by:
For each access type, there is a null access value designating no entity at all. The null value of an access type is the default initial value of the type. Other values of an access type are obtained by evaluating an attribute_reference for the Access or Unchecked_Access attribute of an aliased view of an object or non-intrinsic subprogram, or, in the case of an access-to-object type, an allocator, which returns an access value designating a newly created object (see 3.10.2).
!corrigendum 3.10(14/1)
Replace the paragraph:
All subtypes of an access-to-subprogram type are constrained. The first subtype of a type defined by an access_definition or an access_to_object_definition is unconstrained if the designated subtype is an unconstrained array or discriminated subtype; otherwise it is constrained.
by:
All subtypes of an access-to-subprogram type are constrained. The first subtype of a type defined by an access_definition or an access_to_object_definition is unconstrained if the designated subtype is an unconstrained array or discriminated subtype; otherwise it is constrained. The first subtype of a type defined by an access_type_definition excludes the null value if a null_exclusion is present; otherwise, the first subtype includes the null value.
!corrigendum 3.10(15)
Replace the paragraph:
A composite_constraint is compatible with an unconstrained access subtype if it is compatible with the designated subtype. An access value satisfies a composite_constraint of an access subtype if it equals the null value of its type or if it designates an object whose value satisfies the constraint.
by:
A composite_constraint is compatible with an unconstrained access subtype if it is compatible with the designated subtype. A null_exclusion is compatible with an access subtype if the subtype includes a null value. An access value satisfies a composite_constraint of an access subtype if it equals the null value of its type or if it designates an object whose value satisfies the constraint. An access value satisifes a null_exclusion imposed on an access subtype if it does not equal the null value of its type.
!corrigendum 4.2(7)
Delete the paragraph:
A literal null shall not be of an anonymous access type, since such types do not have a null value (see 3.10).
!corrigendum 4.6(49)
Replace the paragraph:
by:
!corrigendum 4.6(51)
Replace the paragraph:
After conversion of the value to the target type, if the target subtype is constrained, a check is performed that the value satisfies this constraint.
by:
After conversion of the value to the target type, if the target subtype is constrained, a check is performed that the value satisfies this constraint. If the target subtype excludes the null value, then a check is made that the value is not null.
!corrigendum 4.9.1(2)
Replace the paragraph:
A subtype statically matches another subtype of the same type if they have statically matching constraints. Two anonymous access subtypes statically match if their designated subtypes statically match.
by:
A subtype statically matches another subtype of the same type if they have statically matching constraints, and, for access subtypes, either both or neither exclude null. Two anonymous access-to-object subtypes statically match if their designated subtypes statically match, and either both or neither exclude null, and either both or neither are access-to-constant.
!corrigendum 6.1(15)
Replace the paragraph:
parameter_specification ::= defining_identifier_list : mode subtype_mark [:= default_expression] | defining_identifier_list : access_definition [:= default_expression]
by:
parameter_specification ::= defining_identifier_list : mode [null_exclusion] subtype_mark [:= default_expression] | defining_identifier_list : access_definition [:= default_expression]
!corrigendum 6.1(23)
Replace the paragraph:
The nominal subtype of a formal parameter is the subtype denoted by the subtype_mark, or defined by the access_definition, in the parameter_specification.
by:
The nominal subtype of a formal parameter is the subtype determined by the optional null_exclusion and the subtype_mark, or defined by the access_definition, in the parameter_specification.
!corrigendum 6.1(24)
Replace the paragraph:
An access parameter is a formal in parameter specified by an access_definition. An access parameter is of an anonymous general access-to-variable type (see 3.10). Access parameters allow dispatching calls to be controlled by access values.
by:
An access parameter is a formal in parameter specified by an access_definition. An access parameter is of an anonymous access type (see 3.10). Access parameters allow dispatching calls to be controlled by access values.
!corrigendum 8.5.1(4)
Replace the paragraph:
The renamed entity shall be an object.
by:
The renamed entity shall be an object. In the case where the type is defined by an access_definition, the renamed entity shall be of an access-to-constant type if and only if the access_definition defines an access-to-constant type.
!corrigendum 8.6(25)
Replace the paragraph:
by:
!corrigendum 12.5.1(10)
Insert after the paragraph:
the new paragraph:
!corrigendum 12.5.4(4)
Replace the paragraph:
If and only if the general_access_modifier constant applies to the formal, the actual shall be an access-to-constant type. If the general_access_modifier all applies to the formal, then the actual shall be a general access-to-variable type (see 3.10).
by:
If and only if the general_access_modifier constant applies to the formal, the actual shall be an access-to-constant type. If the general_access_modifier all applies to the formal, then the actual shall be a general access-to-variable type (see 3.10). If and only if the formal subtype excludes null, the actual subtype shall exclude null.
!ACATS test
Tests should be created to check on the implementation of this feature.
!appendix

Randy Brukardt  00-04-13

This proposal was split out of the "with type" proposal (AI-00217) in
April 2000. Some early conversation on this feature can be found in that
AI's appendix.

*************************************************************

!topic Missing change in AI95-00231
!reference AI95-00231, RM95 6.1(24)
!from Adam Beneschan 09-30-02
!discussion

Nitpick du jour:

I just noticed AI95-00231, which proposes that, among other things,
ACCESS CONSTANT be allowed as a subprogram access parameter.  It
appears that in the list of RM changes for this AI, 6.1(24) was
missed.  This paragraph includes the sentence:

   "An access parameter is of an anonymous general access-to-variable
   type (see 3.10)."

which will no longer be true since the access parameter could now be
an access-to-constant type.

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From: Dan Eilers
Sent: Friday, January 17, 2003  2:41 PM

AI-231 proposes the syntax:

    not_null_constraint ::= NOT NULL

for null-excluding subtypes of a named access type.

I propose generalizing this to allow value-excluding subtypes
of other named types, serving the same purpose:

> The general ability to specify an access subtype that excludes null for both
> named and anonymous access types can provide useful documentation and higher
> efficiency. This is especially true for parameters, by allowing the nullness
> check to be "pushed" to the caller, where it can be more likely removed.

The same principle applies to the division-by-zero check.

   not_constraint ::= NOT NULL
   not_constraint ::= NOT 0
   not_constraint ::= NOT 0.0
   not_constraint ::= NOT Friday

*************************************************************

From: Robert Dewar
Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2003  8:42 AM

While I am a little sympathetic to the non-null access type proposal, I
find Dan's proposal for extending it definitely inappropriate. It sounds
like a lot of extra work to specify and implement.

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From: Tucker Taft
Sent: Tuesday, May 6, 2003  2:49 PM

During the AdaUK Ada 200Y workshop, Franco Gasperoni made a good
suggestion.  He felt it will be too confusing to make "access T" mean "access
all T not null" (I think others have made this point as well).

Why not just change the semantics of "access T" to allow null (though
when used as a controlling operand, there will be a run-time
check for non-null), so that "access all T" and "access T" are
synonyms.  This will be upward compatible for programs that
don't raise Constraint_Error, and the slight potential
performance degradation when the non-null aspect of access T was
important can be made up for by using "not null" explicitly.

This seems like a reasonable suggestion, and is probably one
we have debated in the past, and just were perhaps worried
about the compatibility issue.  But in fact, I suspect this
is the kind of thing that may fix more bugs that it creates.
Most uses of anon access types are for controlling operands,
and those will see no change.  The other uses often discover
a need to pass "null" eventually, and then have to switch
to a named access type, or play some other game.

Certainly when interfacing with C or Java, an "access T" that allows
null will be more useful.  And altough we could say that
"access T" is just a convenient shorthand for "access all T not null"
it does seem like a recipe for confusion when teaching Ada 200Y.

It seems like if the non-null aspect of an access parameter is
important, users will welcome the chance to say "not null" explicitly.

*************************************************************

From: John Barnes
Sent: Thursday, May 8, 2003  1:28 AM

Good idea..  I always hated the potential confusion as it was.

*************************************************************

From: Gary Dismukes
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2003  6:33 AM

I agree that this seems like a sensible change with minimal disadvantages.

*************************************************************

From: Robert A Duff
Sent: Thursday, May 8, 2003  7:34 AM

Me, three.

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From: Randy Brukardt
Sent: Saturday, September 27, 2003  6:15 PM

In the appendix of AI-231, I see a note from Adam Beneschan that 6.1(24) will
need to be changed (because it says "access-to-variable"). I think the AI needs
to include that, right?

*************************************************************

From: Randy Brukardt
Sent: Saturday, September 27, 2003  6:17 PM

3.7(9) has the same wording, and will need a similar fix.

*************************************************************

From: Tucker Taft
Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2003  9:09 AM

Good point.  Can you make those fixes, or do
you want another version from me?

*************************************************************

From: Randy Brukardt
Sent: Monday, September 29, 2003  6:02 PM

The wording change isn't instantly obvious, so I think I'd prefer a new
version from you.

*************************************************************

From: Javier Miranda
Sent: Wednesday, January 7, 2004  12:29 PM

In file AI-00231.TXT (date 03-10-22) it is said:

   access_definition ::=
      [null_exclussion] ACCESS general_access_modifier subtype_mark

However, in AI-00254 (date 03-11-11) it is said:

   access_definition ::=
      [null_exclussion] ACCESS [general_access_modifier] subtype_mark |
      ...

It seems to me that this second alternative is the right one (to be
compatible with Ada95). In addition both proposals should have the same
rule. Is this a bug in AI-00231?

*************************************************************

From: Gary Dismukes
Sent: Wednesday, January 7, 2004  1:00 PM

This looks like a bug in AI-00231.  Certainly there's no intent
to create an incompatibility by requiring an explicit modifier.

*************************************************************

From: Randy Brukardt
Sent: Wednesday, January 7, 2004  10:26 PM

The version that Tucker handed out at the meeting (AI-00231/07) doesn't have
this problem. I didn't post it in the hopes of saving redundant effort, but
it is now available in the version control system (only - not in the .ZIP
files).

*************************************************************

From: Javier Miranda
Sent: Thursday, January 8, 2004  3:33 AM

Thanks Randy. In the future I will use the versions
available in the version control system to avoid generating
unnecessary noise!

*************************************************************

From: Randy Brukardt
Sent: Thursday, January 8, 2004  11:55 AM

That's always preferrable, but it wouldn't have helped in this case, because
I didn't actually send the changes up until I saw your note. So only people
who were at the meeting had the new version.

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