[gclist] C++ proposal

[Richard A. O'Keefe]

Drat.  If this proposal is accepted *and implemented* it will remove
my biggest objection to C++.

On the other hand, it has been explicit for some time that Ada *may*
be garbage collected, and where are the garbage collecting Ada 
implementations?  Perhaps it will be the same with C++.

As far as a programmer is concerned, there are three situations:
(1) The programmer has code using disguised pointers which will not
    work with a garbage collector.

	This programmer needs a way to FORBID garbage collection.

(2) The programmer doesn't care much either way; if garbage collection
    is provided, s/he can take advantage of it, if not, s/he can do
    something reasonable without it.

	This programmer needs a way to find out if garbage is collected.

(3) The programmer has code which will not work *without* a garbage
    collector because manual reclamation is difficult or incomplete.

	This programmer needs a way to DEMAND garbage collection.

The only way that we can be sure of seeing collecting C++ systems is
if the standard does something for programmer (3).