[benibela]

Why can't each array have its own indexing?

You could declare the array as array[0..100] of something resp. array[1..100] of something for 0/1 based, and just as well do array[2..100] of something, or array[-1..100] of something, for -1/2 based.

Or with letters array['a'..'z'] of something,

Or with enums. TEnum = (red, blue, green), and then an array array[red..green] of something

Actually, that is just Pascal

[szc]

This would all be fine until you start passing and returning these arrays and indexes between independently implemented functions and modules. Then you'd have to start declaring an index type tied to a specific array or a way to look up the index base for a passed in array.

[tharkun__]

Which would be fine actually for the program itself, if this is all figured out by the compiler/at runtime, though obviously more inefficient "for no good reason".

It would wreak havoc on the programming side though. Have you ever worked on a code base with more than a few people? Have you ever had to deal with different preferences programmers have? Differences in opinion between smart, slightly (or not so slightly) non-social people?

Using 0 or 1 indexed arrays, the new space vs tabs war! Or the new 2 spaces vs. 4 spaces vs. 8 spaces vs. using tabs war!