🚀 go-pugleaf

TYPE
  BufType = RECORD
    length: CARDINAL;
    data: ARRAY [0..MAX(CARDINAL)] OF CHAR;
  END;
  BufPtrType = POINTER TO BufType;

VAR
  mybuf: BufPtrType;

(*
 * Somewhere in this code you either malloc
 *  the buffer, or cast something to it.
 *)
    .
    .
    .
  PrintBuffer(mybuf);
    .
    .
    .

PROCEDURE PrintBuffer(bptr: BufPtrType);
VAR curchar: CARDINAL;
BEGIN
  FOR curchar := 0 TO bptr^.length DO
    Write(bptr^.data[i]);
  END;
END;


--------------------------------------
If you don't trust your compiler to optimize away the
de-reference, using ``WITH bptr^ DO'' will usually
force the issue ('though not always.  Personally, I leave it
up to the compiler).

You're right, it isn't handled as well as it could be.
The WRL Modula-2 includes a ``flexible array'' extension for
just this purpose.  I assume Modula-3 has a comparable notion.

Steph