Everybody knows that C++ did not invent the concept of spans and that it was late to the party. It doesn’t change the fact that (presumably) nobody made a proposal to the C++ standard.
> It doesn’t change the fact that (presumably) nobody made a proposal to the C++ standard.
There were proposals about this for many years. C++ is just a terrible programming language, standardized by a committee (WG21) which exists in large part to boost the ego of one man, Bjarne Stroustrup.
N3851 for example wants to name this idea "array_view" which like "string_view" is an impressively unwieldy name for a core language feature, because of course neither of these were actually proposed as core language features even though that's what they naturally should be -- but it is basically the slice type or as you (and modern C++) call it a "span".
It's true that you can't change facts but what you've got here was a belief which was unfounded, not a fact.
I really don't understand why this was not pursued further. At the very least, this should have made it into C++17 together with std::string_view.
> because of course neither of these were actually proposed as core language features even though that's what they naturally should be
Should it really? What would this even look like in C++? IMO std::span works perfectly fine as a library type.
> C++ is just a terrible programming language, standardized by a committee (WG21) which exists in large part to boost the ego of one man, Bjarne Stroustrup.
That's certainly not the reason why it was standardized. Pre-C++98 was wild west with every compiler offering there own (incompatible) idea of what C++ is. Yes, there are many problems with design by committee in general (and the C++ committee in particular), but there was a very good reason for standardizing the language. The committee is not a one man show and there are many occasions where Bjarne has publicly voiced his frustration and disagreement.
Of course it isn't, all the great egotists need a parade of sycophants to heap praise on them, you've doubtless seen modern US "Cabinet meetings" in which TV hosts newly elevated to run parts of the US government compete with experienced politicians as they all try to offer the most effusive praise for their snoring God King.
Personally, I'd throw up, but then I'm very much of Groucho Marx's view on such things.
Are your seriously comparing the C++ standard committee to the Trump administration? I know you have an axe to grind, but this is getting ridiculous.
Where exactly have you seen this "parade of sycophants" in the C++ standards committee?
As far as I know, Bjarne is just a regular committee members with just as many votes as everyone else and no veto powers. The committee frequently accepts or rejects proposals against his will. For a recent example, see his harsh criticism of the new 'contracts' feature in C++26.
Well, you could have linked an actual proposal instead of dropping some cool facts about C, Extended Pascal, Mesa/Cedar and Modula-2, as if that explained anything.
https://www.nokia.com/bell-labs/about/dennis-m-ritchie/varar...
By the way, both Extended Pascal, Mesa/Cedar and Modula-2 have them, under the name of open arrays.
Basically it took Go, C# and others for C++ to finally get its span.
C probably never will.