Why the macros in Objective-C / Cocoa?
- by Joe
I'm coming from a place without macros (Java/Python/C#/Scala) so perhaps my perspective is distorted but...
Why are macros used in Cocoa? Two that spring to mind are NSLocalizedString and NSAssert (and STAssert). Would it be so hard / unsuitable to make them functions (which could be inlined)? I suppose I find them a little bizarre as an unnecessary throw-back to C (and yes, I am familiar with the pedigree of Obj-C).
Is it just something that was done back in the day or is there a specific reason?