C# Structs: Unassigned local variable?

Question

From the documentation:

Unlike classes, structs can be instantiated without using a new operator.

So why am I getting this error:

Use of unassigned local variable 'x'

When I try to do this?

        Vec2 x;         x.X = det * (a22 * b.X - a12 * b.Y);         x.Y = det * (a11 * b.Y - a21 * b.X); 

Where Vec2 x is a struct?

Answer 1

Well, are X and Y properties (rather than fields)? If so, that's the problem. Until all the fields within x are definitely assigned, you can't call any methods or properties.

For instance:

public struct Foo {     public int x;     public int X { get { return x; } set { x = value; } } }  class Program {     static void Main(string[] args)     {         Foo a;         a.x = 10; // Valid          Foo b;         b.X = 10; // Invalid     } } 

Is Vec2 your own type? Do you have access to the fields involved, or only the properties?

If it's your own type, I would strongly urge you to try to stick to immutable structs. I know managed DirectX has some mutable structs for getting as close to optimal performance as possible, but that's at the cost of strange situations like this - and much worse, to be honest.

I would personally give the struct a constructor taking X and Y:

 Vec2 x = new Vec2(det * (a22 * b.X - a12 * b.Y),                    det * (a11 * b.Y - a21 * b.X));