Poll: Would you like to try const-by-default or not?

[Bent Rasmussen]

> I don't like this idea at all. Both "default" ways would only break some 
> existing code, this would break all existing code. In addition, it just 
> seems needlessly verbose, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who hates 
> having to type a

I agree.

> pointless "var" in front variables in JavaScript or "my" in strict Perl (I 
> know this would be for parameters, but it's the same general idea).

I don't see var as pointless; in global scope it's optional; in function 
scope it depends on whether you want it to be local or not. It's certainly 
less verbose than having to add type annotations. C# will have var as well, 
but with type-inference and probably some support in Visual Studio to show 
show inferred types. That, coupled with intellisense, should be a nice 
productivity boost.

An all-const approach with var for mutables would be interesting, if 
feasible... It reminds me of Single Assignment C (SAC), although I've never 
tried that.

Bent