[swift-evolution] Class mutation model and value-constrained protocols

[Chris Lattner]

On Jul 5, 2016, at 10:53 AM, Dave Abrahams via swift-evolution <swift-evolution at swift.org> wrote:
> When T is a class type, it can easily violate *all* of these
> expectations.  In other words, classes naturally bypass the mutation
> model.
> 
> If we are going to maintain source stability after Swift 3, it seems
> that we either need to address this now, or decide that it won't be
> addressed, because of the “viral const” problem.
> 
> One idea that Jordan and I have floated is that protocols with mutating
> methods should be constrained to applying to non-class types.  That
> would be a step in the right direction, but, that still leaves cases
> like gg able to easily violate expectations when the protocol in
> question has no mutating methods.
> 
> Another possibility would be to formalize the idea of value semantics in
> protocol declarations, so that non-class protocols were only allowed to
> apply to values.
> 
> It's also possible that I've overestimated the seriousness of the issue
> and we actually can afford to postpone thinking about it until after
> Swift 4.

There is no chance that we will have time to re-evaluate this for Swift 3.

-Chris