Re: RFC 83 (v1) Make constants look like variables

[Larry Wall]

Steve Simmons writes:
: On Sat, Aug 12, 2000 at 06:18:08AM +1000, Damian Conway wrote:
: 
: > Please, please, please, PLEASE, let us not replicate the debacle that is
: > C++'s const modifier!
: 
: It doesn't feel like a debacle to me, it feels like it put the control
: in the programmers hands.  Yes, the syntax is often unweildy -- but IMHO
: that's because when one marries the idea of constants to complex data
: structures and references, the world becomes an unweildy place.

Hmm, well, we'll certainly have constants of some sort or another.  I
don't think Damian needs to worry about me making Perl look like C++.
I've also grown to detest the fact that every other word in a typical
C++ program is "const".  My inclination at this point is make certain
things constant by default (such as the insides of a complex constant,
and the parameters to a subroutine), and then have a way of "undeclaring"
constancy if you really want it.  It would perhaps be considered bad
form to vary someone else's constants.  (Outside of Indiana.)

Larry