(Resolved) Builtins: Remove ByteArray, introduce byte and use Vector.<byte> instead

[lth]

Lars and Jeff propose that we abandon ByteArray, since Vector.<int> can be wrapped to provide the same API and the same storage efficiency.

We also propose that we introduce a new numeric type byte (8-bit unsigned integer) that fits in with the rest of the language like int and uint do.

[graydon]

Sounds good to me. I thought we went toward this earlier and then backed off, but I don't recall why.

[lth]

IIRC we were trying not to introduce too much new machinery at the time :-P Since ByteArray is just a container for bytes with no methods except get and set, it was an acceptable compromise.

I should note that the introduction of byte is optional, as Vector.<int> is enough to implement an efficient ByteArray class, for example.

[lth]

we agreed to adopt byte and kill ByteArray?.

[lth]

See also #234, we're now trying to kill byte and introduce ByteVector as a subtype of Vector.<uint>.