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delphigenericsdelphi-xe6

Global scope procedures cannot be generic? Is there a technical reason for this restriction?

Why is it that using generic types in a global procedure is not permitted. For example:

  procedure Foo<T>(bar : T);

Compiler Error: E2530 Type parameters not allowed on global procedure or function

Yet it is acceptable as a class method

TFoo = class(TObject)
public
  class procedure Foo<T>(bar : T);
end;

That's obviously my workaround, but I am interested in whether there an actual technical reason for the restriction.

Solution

  • There is no technical reason why procedures at global scope could not be generic.

    If the designers wanted to implement this, then it could be done.