From: 0xCDCDCDCD@gmx.at   
      
   On 23.04.2012 23:39, Dave Harris wrote:   
   > 0xCDCDCDCD@gmx.at (Martin B.) wrote (abridged):   
   >>> Basically, assignment statements are simple. Everyone understands   
   >>> them.  Initialisation lists are weird and full of restrictions and   
   >>> special cases; they are part of what makes C++ hard. Sometimes you   
   >>> need them for performance, though.   
   >>   
   >> I'll answer to this in semi-rant mode, as it seem to be a common   
   >> theme with C++. (It certainly is common where I work, also when   
   >> discussing with some friends.):   
   >>   
   >> And I can't hear it anymore! C++ is a professional tool, and we   
   >> should use the language to it's full potential, and not limit   
   >> ourselves to what "everybody understands". The *whole* dang language   
   >> is "weird and full of restrictions", and still there we are using   
   >> it, because one or the other reason!   
   >   
   > I think this is missing the point. There is no benefit to making code   
   needlessly   
   > complicated. Prefer simplicity. The issue here is, which is simpler? I've   
   mentioned   
   > ways in which constructor initialise lists are more complicated. Are those   
   > complications worth it?   
   >   
      
   There are some things needlessly complicated, but surely, initializer   
   lists are *not* among them.   
      
   Initializer lists are only "more" complicated -- if at all -- for some   
   special cases of initialization. (That were mentioned.) Then again, you   
   must use them in some other cases anyway.   
      
   So, I agree that *the existence* of initializer lists in the C++   
   language is a (syntactic) complication.   
      
   Once they exist, they are equivalently complex (to read and write) than   
   constructor initialization code - and the devs have to know them anyway,   
   so, as others argued, I guess *using them* when possible will lead to   
   *more consistent* code.   
      
   cheers,   
   Martin   
      
   --   
   Good C++ code is better than good C code, but   
   bad C++ can be much, much worse than bad C code.   
      
      
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