What you're overlooking is that patterns are used for more than just
`match` expressions. They can also be used in both assignment statements
and in function/closure signatures. For example, note that `x` and `y` are
the same type in the following program:
fn main() {
let ref x = 3;
let y = &3;
foo(x);
foo(y);
}
fn foo(x: &int) {
println!("{:i}", *x);
}
Removing the `ref` keyword and making patterns reference by default would
make `let x = 3;` declare a reference to an integer. Then you'd need a new
keyword to express when you don't want this, and you're back at square one.
On Fri, May 30, 2014 at 9:56 AM, Emmanuel Surleau <
emmanuel.surl...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I think the 'ref' keyword removal is a very good idea. It has bitten
> me several times, and the idea that pattern matching something
> essentially performs a side effect (moving the value) leaves me
> uncomfortable.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Emm
> _______________________________________________
> Rust-dev mailing list
> Rust-dev@mozilla.org
> https://mail.mozilla.org/listinfo/rust-dev
>
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