> The solution for C I proposed is backwards compatible, and does not make existing code slower.
Where can I read about it? The only way to make ptrs to array elements also safe that I can think of, is to replace them with triples: (base, element ptr, limit).
Thanks. I got interested in this topic as people are talking about writing OS kernel code in Rust but a) it only helps new code and b) very hard to justify rewriting millions of lines of C code in Rust (plus rewrites are never 100% faithful feature wise). If on the other hand if C can be made safer, may be through a stepwise process where the code is rewritten incrementally to pass through C->C0->C1->Cn compilers, each making incremental language changes, much more of code can be made safer. It will never be as good as Rust but I do think this space is worth exploring.
Where can I read about it? The only way to make ptrs to array elements also safe that I can think of, is to replace them with triples: (base, element ptr, limit).