C2y Proposal: Essential Effects for C

The proposal titled "Essential Effects for C" by Alex Celeste suggests enhancing the C programming language by integrating a type and effect system. This system would require functions and blocks to declare the classes of effects resulting from their evaluation, thereby improving composability in metaprogramming and facilitating the definition of MISRA-style restrictions. The proposal outlines a formalized effect system that tracks side effects at a granular level, combining it with the type system to ensure that specific effects occur or do not occur in designated contexts. The proposed system categorizes effects into three groups: Local, Persistent, and Control, with a focus on static effect tracking rather than dynamic handling. The document details how effects propagate within scopes and how they can be combined, emphasizing that effects are distinct from types. The proposal also raises questions about additional useful effect classes and the potential for a notation system for effect annotations. Overall, the proposal aims to enhance the safety and reliability of C programs by providing a structured way to manage side effects.

- The proposal aims to integrate a type and effect system into C for better effect tracking.

- It categorizes effects into Local, Persistent, and Control groups.

- The system focuses on static effect tracking without dynamic handling.

- It emphasizes the distinction between effects and types in programming constructs.

- The proposal invites feedback on additional effect classes and notation systems.