To: J3                                                     J3/24-159r2
From: Brad Richardson
Subject: Syntax for Instantiation of Standalone Template Procedure
Date: 2024-October-21

Reference: 24-126r4

1. Introduction
===============

The current syntax for instantiation of a standalone template
procedure when not using the inline instantiation syntax makes use
of the INSTANTIATE statement and requires that the procedure be
renamed so that it does not have the same name as the template.
This assumes that not only does the instantiated procedure have a
name, but that it is the same as the template name. It also results
in a syntax for the statement that appears redundant. For example

INSTANTIATE tmpl_proc(...), new_name => tmpl_proc

This paper presents some alternatives for the above syntax.

2. Syntax Options
=================

The following are some possibilities for alternative syntax for advance
instantiation of standalone template procedures. These alternatives do
not imply that the instantiated procedure has a name, let alone what
that name is.

A. INSTANTIATE tmpl_proc(...) => new_name
B. INSTANTIATE tmpl_proc(...) as new_name
C. INSTANTIATE tmpl_proc(...) <= new_name
D. new_name => INSTANTIATE tmpl_proc(...)
E. procedure(), parameter :: new_name = tmpl_proc^(...)
F. INSTANTIATE tmpl_proc(...), [ONLY :] new_name => *

It is noted that option A, while concise, clear and somewhat intuitive,
has the order of entities reversed from the usual rename syntax. Option
B corrects that defect by introducing a new keyword. Option C is
effectively a variation on B, but using the less than or equal to
operator. Option D is likely to be indistinguishable syntactically from
a pointer assignment statement in some contexts. Option E expands on
the procedure declaration statement in a new way, but the use of the
parameter keyword (implying named constant) may be inappropriate in
this context. Option F simply uses something other than a name for the
use-name. Variations on the above examples are certainly also possible
and worth considering.


Straw Vote
==========

Which of the above options should be used as the syntax for
instantiation of standalone template procedure where it is not
immediately called or passed as an actual argument?