Null references (oh no, not again!)

[Joel C. Salomon]

Walter Bright wrote:
> I've used compilers that required explicit initializers for all
> variables. Sounds great in theory, in practice it *causes* bugs.
> 
> What happens is the compiler dings the user with "initializer required."
> The user wants to get on with things, so he just throws in an
> initializer, any initializer, to get the compiler to shut up.

Then the compiler is giving the wrong warning; it ought only to warn
that the variable is used before it has been set.

—Joel Salomon