"John Torjo" <john.lists@torjo.com> wrote
As a side-node, I'm moderately against having float coordinates. Why would you think int is not enough?
I would have thought that both types would be required dependent on the type of 'space' you are in. When working in pixels or 'device units', integers are an obvious choice ie at very low level. Each pixel is then visualised as a rectangular tile in a grid. The object (eg a window) is closely associated with the grid and the 'gridness' may well be taken into account when manipulating the object , which is specifically designed to 'live' only within the grid. However there are obvious cases (drawing a circle) where an analogue space is a better choice to represent the object. Scrolling and scaling are other factors A more complete framework would have UDT's rather than ints, representing pixels, as well as other types representing inches, millimetres as used in (say) CSS and (I think) SVG etc, which would allow automatic conversion (runtime for pixels) of one measure to another. It would also allow precise control over the semantics of converting. I have been using united types in this way for some time ( from my physical quantities library) and find it much more convenient and pleasant ( I make very little use of device units directly. There is always a transform to get to the device layer) and certainly dont miss the terseness of ints or reals, especially when reviewing the code. I have not implemented a pixel type as yet but I think it would be well worth while., although it would all need to be part of a cohesive 'space' system, probably with transforms for moving from one type of space to another. The type of unit would play a part in representing a particular view of space, either device space or logical space) A 'C compatible' alternative to units as types is an enum parameter representing the units in functions using units. (In both units and in transforms MS GDI+ is worth looking at. I think it takes the enum approach to units). Together with the point/size issue coordinate systems are in the set of primitives that are the building blocks of a 'space system'. like ints, doubles and maths are the building blocks a numeric system. regards Andy Little