const property don't wont return const reference to value

[monarch_dodra]

On Sunday, 23 December 2012 at 15:05:16 UTC, Namespace wrote:
> On Sunday, 23 December 2012 at 14:55:30 UTC, bearophile wrote:
>> Namespace:
>>
>>> Shouldn't we fix this? Most of the Newcomer are confused with 
>>> the fact,
>>
>> Take a look in bugzilla. I opened an enhancement request to 
>> fix this situation, but Walter has closed it down. The 
>> rationale is to keep uniform the way D manages tags like 
>> const, immutable, etc.
>>
>> I don't agree with him in this case: I agree that uniformity 
>> is good, but breaking symmetry is acceptable when it just 
>> produces an error and when it helps avoid a common mistake.
>>
>> If you have strong desires about fixing this, then I suggest 
>> you to open a new thread about it in the main D newsgroup. I 
>> have already fought this battle and I lost. (And I think this 
>> time Jonathan was on my side).
>>
>> Bye,
>> bearophile
>
> I have to write "const (ReturnType)"  and "ref ReturnType" ... 
> very symetric. But I think that Walter thinks that this is the 
> best idea, and of course better than that what C++ and other 
> languages do​​. So what should I waste my time with "war" with 
> my limited english knowledge ? ;)
> But thank you, that you tried it.
>
> Maybe this is something for Romulus... :)

"ref" is a function qualifier, not a type qualifier, so you could 
even write it as:
"const(ReturnType) foo() const ref;"

So technically, it is symetric.

I for one don't think this is a huge problem. There is *some* 
confusion for those comming from C++, but they (we) have to learn 
D is not C++. Besides, I like the liberty of putting all 
qualifiers on the line before the types, including const.

If anything "const" *itself* is VERY confusing for new commers. 
WAY more than the syntax used to qualify a function with it.