null_pointer_checks.md

Null Pointer Checks

Problem

Currently all functions do proper argument checking which might degrade performance.

Constraints

Assumptions

Considered Alternatives

• Removing all null pointer checks and do assert on debug code
• Removing some null pointer checks
• adding functional high-level methods that avoid most null pointer checks

Decision

Rejected (keep checks) due to time constraints

Rationale

• should have consistent, defined behavior

Implications

• ABI, API

Related Decisions

Notes

• Benchmarks needed