QtCS2017 Before Runtime discussion

Make the API easy?

• Copy on Write to avoid copies at runtime
• Can we do it at compile time?
• Let tools get const and references right
• Warn about unnecessary copies
• Clang can help here

Notes

• need real examples
• QtCreator supports only very basic refactoring tools
  • having tools outside of QtCreator and use these tools maybe inside
• API changes need to be available by Clangtidy scripts (?)
• what about templates?
  • concept
• the tools cannot fit to all cases
• this kind of tools can help to move to Qt 6(or other future versions)

Make changes easy

• API changes are expensive
• API looks outdated if not adapted to current paradigms (legacy code)
• How can we make them easy
• How can Clang help here

Clang Query

• Think about it as SQL for the AST
• Makes big changes much cheaper and secure

Immediate feedback vs overnight refactoring

• Both are important
• Immediate feedback reduces refactorings and reviews
• Run refactorings overnight for expansive refactorings
• Integration with the CI