None return

[Akuli]

Python typing uses -> None when there is no return value, Jou uses -> void.

Jou should switch to -> None, or at least display a good error message if someone uses -> None.

[Akuli]

We will need the void keyword anyway for void pointers. Will it be confusing if the same code uses both void and None?

declare free(ptr: void*) -> None

@littlewhitecloud I want to know what you think. Should Jou use -> void (similar to C) or -> None (similar to Python) when function does not return a value?

[Moosems]

Is there an internal difference between void and None?

[Akuli]

Currently None is not used for anything in Jou. You can use it as a variable name, for example. However, the void keyword has two meanings in Jou. Jou also has NULL.

Currently:

• void* means "any pointer", i.e. the pointer type that can point to a value of any type
• -> void means "this function does not return anything"
• NULL is the null pointer, which is used as a special "missing" value

This issue suggest changing Jou like this:

• void* means "any pointer", i.e. the pointer type that can point to a value of any type
• -> None means "this function does not return anything"
• NULL is the null pointer, which is used as a special "missing" value

Now that I write it out, I'm pretty sure this is a good idea. Thanks for asking a good question :)

[littlewhitecloud]

I am sorry I came later, I also think jou should use -> None.