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I mean, I don't know if nulls "arise in nature" exactly, but null pointers arise quite naturally in computer memory when setting stuff up and tearing stuff down
by 12_throw_away 2y ago
I mean, I don't know if nulls "arise in nature" exactly, but null pointers arise quite naturally in computer memory when setting stuff up and tearing stuff down. I agree that it's vastly preferable, in a PL, for nulls to be semantically distinct from live pointers. But still, null pointers model something real, and it took a lot of research to get us to the point where we could build languages that can make the semantic distinction.
- mrkeen 2y agoI completely accept them in an operating systems context. I have a soft spot for C. But they have no business in application programming. As you say, they are about the state of your computer's memory, (not your application!) Then of course Rust came along and I'm questioning even that level of tolerance for them.