[smosher_]

The idea is you can write this:

    let _ = print_string "foo"
    let _ = print_string "bar"

at the top level.

Of course you can write

    let msg = "foo" in print_string msg
    let msg = "bar" in print_string msg

(which isn't at issue, except no semicolons are needed.)

But you can't write

    print_string "foo"
    print_string "bar"

without semicolons.

[mercurial]

> The idea is you can write this:

>

> let _ = print_string "foo"

> let _ = print_string "bar"

>

> at the top level.

Ah. Well, the solution is not use "let _" or ";;", the solution is to avoid sociopathic code like that. Module definition with built-in, unavoidable side effects are evil.

[lpw25]

You need at least one module that does something at top-level, otherwise your program won't do anything.

[jordwalke]

For serious development, yes, but consider the people who are learning OCaml. One of the first programs is going to be some kind of side effecting hello world etc.