[OT] Microsoft filled patent applications for scoped and immutable types

[Walter Bright via Digitalmars-d]

On 8/27/2014 1:17 PM, Dicebot wrote:
> On Wednesday, 27 August 2014 at 20:08:45 UTC, Jérôme M. Berger wrote:
>>     Note however that as I understand it D does not have "immutable
>> types" as claimed by patent 20140196008. The difference is that
>> according to the patent the immutable attribute is given to the type
>> and applies to all instances of this type, whereas in D the
>> immutable attribute applies to an instance (I may be wrong about
>> that one, since I haven't done anything in D for years even if I try
>> to keep up with the forums).
>>
>>     However, scala case classes should constitute prior art for this
>> patent.
>>
>>         Jerome
>
> In D it applies to type. When you "apply immutable to the instance" you in fact
> create new type on the fly by adding immutable qualifier to the existing one.
> But it can also be aliased to always be immutable.

Right. immutable(T) declares a transitive immutable type.