Microsoft’s C# 9.0 begins to take shape

Proposed capabilities include simplified parameter null validation, record types, and switch expressions

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Having just published C# 8.0 in late September, Microsoft has already begun planning C# 9.0. The next version of Java’s archrival could gain switch expressions, record types, and simplified parameter null validation code, among a multitude of other capabilities.

With the C# language being open source, Microsoft expressed it is working with the community to propose features for the next version. The project’s GitHub page has not cited a serious arrival date for the upgrade, just saying it was due by January 1, 2090.

Among the capabilities eyed for C# 9.0 thus far include:

• Simplified parameter null validation code, allowing for standard null validation on parameters to be simplified using a small annotation on parameters.
• Support for a switch expression as a statement expression when every arm’s expression is also a statement expression. No common type among the arms is needed when used as a statement expression.
• Records, a simplified declaration form for C# class and struct types combining benefits of similar features. Records provide a mechanism for declaring a datatype by describing members of the aggregate as well as additional code or deviations from the usual boilerplate, if any.
• CallerArgumentExpression, enabling developers to capture the expression passed to a method, to allow better error messages in diagnostic/testing APIs and reduce keystrokes.
• Relaxing of ordering constraints around “ref” and “partial” modifiers on type declarations.
• Primary constructors, to reduce programming overhead by putting constructor arguments directly in scope throughout a class, obviating the need to explicitly declare a backing field.
• Top level statements and member declarations, embracing a scripting dialect within C#. The C# compiler currently understands a dialect of the language used for scripting and interactive purposes. Use of the scripting dialect has been relatively minor but usage is picking up. The plan is based on a belief that extensions to C# could be added to the language rather than having a separate scripting dialect.
• Support for covariant return types, allowing an override method to have a more-derived reference type than the method it overrides.
• Static delegates, providing a lightweight callback capability to the language.
• Support for a nullable-enhanced common type, countering a current situation where current common-type algorithm results are counter-intuitive. With the proposed change, an expression such as condition 7 1 : null would result in a value of type int?code.
• Permitting ternary operation with int? and double operands.
• To avoid capturing any local state when supplying lambda functions for method arguments, the lambda declaration would be prefixed with the static keyword. This makes the lambda function like a static method.

C# is an object-oriented and type-safe programming language with roots in the C family, similar to Java. It also supports garbage collection and component-oriented programming, leveraging self-contained, self-describing packages of functionality.

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