Bug 2002 – Add keyword for a function definition

Like C and C++, D doesn't have a keyword for function definitions. In C you can get away with it, since it's a simple language with few possibilities. The complexity of the C++ and D languages make this approach unsuitable. Adding a function definition keyword makes the language easier to read. Consider the following function definition: int doSomething(int someParam) { ... } against function int doSomething(int someParam) { ... } For the second function definition it's immediatly clear that we're declaring a function here. No need for second glances, this is definitely a function. The first one on the other is not as intuitive, except perhaps for C/C++ programmers. While for a simple function the readability improvement may be marginal. When we consider storage classes and type modifiers, the keyword's influence is much bigger. private static const int doSomething(int someParam){} vs private static const function int doSomething(int someParam){} In the first declaration it's a game of 'what belongs to who', whereas the declaration with the function keyword is a lot more expressive. And with some good syntax highlighting its effect will be even larger. It's also more consistent with the rest of D syntax. Especially if you'd ommit the void type, which the keyword would make possible. struct X; class X; template X(); function X(); macro X(); So basically using a function definition keyword will decrease the learning curve needed for D. It will increase the readability of D code. And it could possibly make it easier to parse. I hope you will consider implementing it. Cheers, Boyd van Oosterhout

This proposal is too fresh from the NG. It had little discussion, and received little to no support (other than yourself). vote-

Yes, that's why I posted it here. On the newsgroup there wasn't much of a reaction. What reaction there was, was moderately positive, not too enthousiastic though. Here it can either be permanently rejected, left alone until more pressing matters are resolved, or discussed on a more longterm basis. The newsgroup simply isn't suitable for that. Cheers, Boyd

If you are really after this sort of style, you can use the existing function syntax: int function(int x) doSomething = { ... };