C++ Named Initialization: My Bugbear

posted 27 Nov 2019

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I often lament the lack of named initialization in C++. It changes how I design code - if two arguments can be swapped without the compiler complaining about it, then it’s possible to have a runtime bug that can be difficult to track down. I love Python’s named initialization, but it appears that C++ is constrained to the not-exactly-foolproof method of “Just throw some comments on the end of the lines, it will be fine!”. I’m not a fan.

Thankfully, C++ 20 will come to the rescue, bringing functionality available to C since 1999! Only 20+ years behind. Better late than never though, looking forward to having this available.