part of c programming

currently, every declaration on the top-level of a file exists for all following code, even when the declaring file was only included. included library code can not hide helpers and internal declarations, type definitions, and macros. not only can this lead to naming conflicts when the following code tries to use an already declared identifier, it could also change the behavior unwantedly by declaring or modifying used bindings.

this makes it difficult to share libraries because some bindings may conflict with other libraries or the including codebase.

c can not rename bindings on inclusion. for example, the addition of a prefix to names that are too generic. redefinition and aliases are also no solution, as aliases require a reference to the aliased in the same scope

currently, a common solution is to build shared library objects with header files and additional compilation configuration. this adds overhead which makes small libraries less practical to use. another approach is to use prefixes in identifiers to reduce the likelihood of the same name existing in including code.

if c had namespaces there might be less need for configuring and compiling separate binary modules because small libraries could be included without conflict.

for many types of resource allocation (for example, memory, open files, database and network connections) the deallocation should not be missed because memory leaks, inefficient resource usage, and resource exhaustion would otherwise be the consequence. to track the life time of such resources inside, outside, and through functions tends to create a considerable burden on the developer.

many related patterns emerge, for example:

• callee allocates and deallocates
• callee receives and deallocates or reallocates
• callee allocates and the continuation deallocates (at some point that is to be defined)
• detection and deallocation of relevant resources so far at early function returns, for example on error
• designating deallocation to be automatic with the end of process

automatic deallocation and more explicit syntax for passing resource handles between functions could help make programming easier and programs considerably more robust.

see also ownership in the rust language

• macros that can generate multiple expressions from variable length arguments
• macros that do not need line escaping
• option to declare variable names that are guaranteed to not conflict with the surrounding code they are used in. one option currently is to use unusual variable names and hope that they wont ever conflict and the macro is not used twice in the same scope
• #if that can be used inside #define
• macros that define macros

• literal assignment of multiple values to heap allocated arrays. int* a = malloc(3 * sizeof(int)); a = {1, 2, 3};
• keyword arguments. particularly useful for optional arguments. scheme has lambda* and javascript uses its object notation to the same extent
• defining arrays as types. currently, the only option is to use structs with a single array field. structs may waste space by using padding
• symbols: literal, character-based identifiers. string literals need string comparison and variables with numeric values need extra declaration. enums are probably the next best thing but still require prior declaration
• names for values and shadowing: there is no really simple way to associate a name with an expression just for not having to repeat it. preprocessor definitions require a markedly different syntax, do not shadow variables, and are always global,
• a fractional number type for exact representations like 14/3
• reflection features to infer pointer target types to allow macros like this: "allocate_memory(my_t_pointer)" -> "my_t_pointer = malloc(sizeof(my_t))"
• a portable and robust include guard. currently, the whole file content has to be enclosed with a preprocessor if-expression or alternatively preceeded by a less portable pragma-once to prevent multiple inclusion. one reason for the current limitations is the difficulty compilers have in determining if two included files are actually the same file
• anonymous functions: to pass procedural information and possibly dynamically create it. for example, to abstract the inside of a for-loop, or as an argument to functions that accept function pointers, for example a sorting function. currently, it is only possible to use top-level defined named functions for this or use less portable compound-literals