[swift-evolution] [Review] SE-0024 "Optional Value Setter `??=`"

[John Lin]

> What is your evaluation of the proposal?
-1 for this. Although the proposal was initially intended for property usage, I think the most wide spread usage will be on local variables. And this will encourage use usage of var instead of let.
For example:

var foo = optionalOutput()
foo??= bar

vs

let foo = optionalOutput() ?? bar

The proposed ??= may create many unnecessary var usage just because they want to use the ??= shorthand.
> Is the problem being addressed significant enough to warrant a change to Swift?
No,  It can be implemented as a extension if needed. 
We already got default value for property, default parameter value for functions, and ?? for local variable usage.

> Does this proposal fit well with the feel and direction of Swift?
No. It’ll encourage unnecessary usage of var.
> If you have used other languages or libraries with a similar feature, how do you feel that this proposal compares to those?
The ||= operator in ruby. But the reason why ||= is popular is that ruby has no support for keyword argument before ruby 2.0. For example:
def foo(options={})
  options[:bar]||=“default”
end
using ||= is the de factor way to set value to options[:bar]

but after ruby 2.0 following method is preferred

def foo(bar: “default”)
end
which eliminates the need of ||= operator   
> How much effort did you put into your review? A glance, a quick reading, or an in-depth study?
Read though the origin thread, read the proposal, read some of the reviews.

John

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