3 ms·

All the examples where they're useful are contrived. And simplicity is an actual goal of computer language design.

• mattst88 11y ago
  That's quite a claim. I agree that most uses of these operators as an expression are not wise. Some are though. As a counter-claim, I offer: array[i++] = this; array[i++] = that; array[i++] = the_other; which also extends nicely when some of those elements are optional.
  • SamReidHughes 11y ago
    For what it's worth, you could always make a function postincr and write array[postincr(&i)] = ...; if you're doing enough of those that it's worth it.
  • lomnakkus 11y ago
    I presume you're using C as the example language? Most modern languages have an append-to-list method/function, so your example isn't really applicable in those langauges. For example, ArrayList#add() for Java or Vec::push[1] for Rust, etc. (Yes, these are technically dynamically sized arrays, but you can always reserve the necessary amount of space up front if you so desire.) [1] https://doc.rust-lang.org/std/vec/struct.Vec.html#method.push https://doc.rust-lang.org/std/vec/struct.Vec.html#method.pus...