Function Pointer Syntax for Whiley

One of the next big issues needing to be addressed is the syntax for function and method pointers.  The syntax I’m thinking of is close to that used in C and C++ (see e.g. here and here).  My initial idea results in something like this:

define MyComparator as {
    int compareTo(MyRecord,MyRecord)
}

This is defining a record type, MyComparator, which contains a single field, compareTo. This field is, of course, a function pointer accept two MyRecord’s and returning an int. We can invoke it like so:

int f(MyComparator comp, MyRecord r1, MyRecord r2):
    return comp.compareTo(r1,r2)

Similarly, we can “take the address” of a function using the & operator like so:

int comp(MyRecord r1, MyRecord r2):
    ...
    return 1 // positive case

void System::main([string] args):
    r1 = ...
    r2 = ...
    x = f(&comp,r1,r2)

At this point, the syntax seems a little inconsistent.  I’m using & from C/C++, but not requring a * and/or allowing ->. Following C/C++ syntax properly would require something like this:

define MyComparator as {
    int (*compareTo)(MyRecord,MyRecord)
}

int f(MyComparator comp, MyRecord r1, MyRecord r2):
    return *(comp.compareTo)(r1,r2)

To me, this is ugly and unnecessary. On the other hand, perhaps I should consider dropping the & so everything is consistent. E.g. by permitting this

void System::main([string] args):
    r1 = ...
    r2 = ...
    x = f(comp,r1,r2)

This could work, for sure … But, somehow I’m not a great fan.

define Writer as process {
 int Writer::write([byte] bytes)
}

This declares a process type, Writer, which has one field, write. In this case, write is a method pointer, as indicated by the :: in the above. It seems redundant to require Writer::write, but it’s necessary since write could be a method pointer to some other kind of process. This can be slightly improved by allowing a short-hand like this:

define Writer as process {
 int ::write([byte] bytes)
}

And, in fact, I want to go further a permit this equivalent short-hand notation:

process Writer {
 int ::write([byte] bytes)
}

But, somehow, this doesn’t sit quite right for me. I suppose I need to ponder some other options …