[xyzzy_plugh]

I did not suggest it applies to this specific issue, I replied to a comment containing inflammatory remarks, but I'll bite: To answer that you need to first produce the minimum change to the language that provides this functionality.

A solution might be optionals, which might require sum types, which might require generics (which Go just learned), which most definitely requires a more complex type system, which almost certainly involves longer compiler times.

Is that all worth it? I don't know. The Go team certainly didn't think so.

Languages that I'm aware of that do solve this are Scala, Rust, Kotlin to some extent, Haskell... languages which do not have a reputation of being stable, easy to learn, easy to read and understand, compile quickly, etc.

[eviks]

Thanks, I understand it was more a general inflammatory conversation, that's why I didn't like it and was wondering whether it could be grounded to this specific topic. Although I had in mind what "teasing an advanced type system" would be needed in this case that would lead to a loss of productivity, slower compliation is also relevant.

Though the reputation for those other languages mainly stem from their embrace of way more advanced concepts rather than null handling via optionals, I think that this specific concept makes it easier to learn/read/understand (though not compile quicker)

[richbell]

> ...languages which do not have a reputation of being stable, easy to learn, easy to read and understand, compile quickly, etc.

Kotlin is definitely the odd man out in that list.