fix #20644 cast(ref T) as shorthand for *cast(T*)&

changelog/dmd.reference-cast.dd

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+Add cast(ref T)e as shorthand for *cast(T*)&e
+
+A `cast(ref T)e` takes `e` representing an lvalue and forcibly changes
+its type to `T`. It is equivalent to the expression `*cast(T*)&e`.
+)
+
+---
+int i = 73;
+float f = *cast(float*)&i;  // reinterprets the integer bit pattern as a float
+float g = cast(ref float)i; // equivalent to the previous statement
+---

compiler/src/dmd/parse.d

@@ -8754,9 +8754,17 @@
             break;
 
         case TOK.cast_: // cast(type) expression
-            {
+            {   // https://dlang.org/spec/expression.html#cast_expressions
                 nextToken();
                 check(TOK.leftParenthesis);
+
+                bool castRef;
+                if (token.value == TOK.ref_)   // cast(ref ...)
+                {
+                    castRef = true;
+                    nextToken();
+                }
+
                 /* Look for cast(), cast(const), cast(immutable),
                  * cast(shared), cast(shared const), cast(wild), cast(shared wild)
                  */
@@ -8800,6 +8808,10 @@
                 }
                 if (token.value == TOK.rightParenthesis)
                 {
+                    /* https://dlang.org/spec/expression.html#CastQual
+                     */
+                    if (castRef)
+                        error("`cast(ref` needs to be followed with a type");
                     nextToken();
                     e = parseUnaryExp();
                     e = new AST.CastExp(loc, e, m);
@@ -8810,7 +8822,19 @@
                     t = t.addSTC(AST.ModToStc(m)); // cast( const type )
                     check(TOK.rightParenthesis);
                     e = parseUnaryExp();
-                    e = new AST.CastExp(loc, e, t);
+                    if (castRef)
+                    {
+                        /* Rewrite cast(ref T)e as *cast(T*)&e
+                         */
+                        t = new AST.TypePointer(t);
+                        e = new AST.AddrExp(loc, e);
+                        e = new AST.CastExp(loc, e, t);
+                        e = new AST.PtrExp(loc, e);
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        e = new AST.CastExp(loc, e, t);
+                    }
                 }
                 break;
             }

compiler/test/fail_compilation/castref.d

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+/* TEST_OUTPUT:
+---
+fail_compilation/castref.d(10): Error: `cast(ref` needs to be followed with a type
+---
+*/
+
+void test()
+{
+    int* p;
+    char* q = cast(ref const)p;
+}

compiler/test/runnable/mars1.d

@@ -2549,6 +2549,16 @@ void test9()
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
+void test10()
+{
+    int v = 0x12345678;
+    float f = cast(ref float)v;
+    float g = *cast(float*)&v;
+    assert(f == g);
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
 int main()
 {
     // All the various integer divide tests
@@ -2651,6 +2661,7 @@ int main()
     test20574();
     test8();
     test9();
+    test10();
 
     printf("Success\n");
     return 0;