[sunrunner]

As a Python programmer at day job, that is Clojure-curious and sadly only gets to use it for personal projects, and is currently threatened by an obnoxious TypeScript take over, I feel this.

[hn_throw2025]

In the context of the original discussion, TypeScript (and ES6) has const and let.

[dragonwriter]

Neither let nor even const are immutable (const prevents reassignment but not mutation if the value is of a mutable type like object or array).

[Kailhus]

Yep, I believe you'd need to call Object.seal(foo) to prevent mutability. Haven't really had the chance to use it

[mwcz]

Object.freeze is the one you're looking for.

const + Object.freeze is a lot to remember and cumbersome to use throughout a codebase, very relevant to Carmack's wish for immutability by default. I'm grateful Rust opted for that default.

[sunrunner]

Fair enough about const and let, the obnoxiousness for me is a combination of the language ergonomics, language ecosystem, but mostly the techno-political decision making behind it.

[AstroBen]

well yeah except const doesn't make objects or arrays immutable

[MetaWhirledPeas]

Yeah it makes their structure immutable? Something like that. Not useless but not what you would expect.

But for non-objects and non-arrays it's fine.

[catlifeonmars]

I feel that Java’s “final” would have been a better choice than “const”. It doesn’t have the same confusing connotation.

[Garlef]

If you avoid metaprogramming and stick to the simple stuff, python and typescript are almost the same language.

To be fair, comprehensions (list/object expresions) are a nice feature that I miss a lot in JS/TS. But that's about it.

[dude250711]

Removing barriers to sloppy code is a language feature.

That is why vibe coding, JavaScript and Python are so attractive.

[Xelbair]

Removing barriers to civil engineering building design is a feature.

Who needs to calculate load bearing supports, walls, and floors when you can just vibe oversize it by 50%.

[huflungdung]

Well if it does the job. So what?