Removing ptr and adding ref #1334
Description
I'd like to propose we remove the ptr type from WGSL. I've found this type to be especially confusing because we also have things like var which is a pointer to some bit of member, but it's different from ptr.
In the place of ptr I propose we add a ref keyword which is used similar to var.
fn main() -> void {
var a : i32 = 2;
ref b : i32 = a; // Take a reference to a
const c : ptr<function, i32> = a; // current ptr syntax
}var <private> a : i32 = 2;
fn main() -> void {
ref b : i32 = a; // b inherits the `private` storage class from a
ref<private> c : i32 = a; // Even if provided, the storage class must match.
const b : ptr<private, i32> = a; // current ptr syntax
}When using a ref as a parameter to a function, the storage class is required.
fn b(ref<private> a : i32) -> i32 {
return a;
}
fn b(a : ptr<private, i32>) -> i32 {} // Current ptr syntax
var<private> z : i32 = 2;
fn main() -> void {
ref y : i32 = z;
var c : i32 = b(y);
}Using ref is more concise, and provides a clearer idea of what you're getting. It functions the same as var in that we will auto-dereference to do the load/store as needed.