const variables

[gbracha]

A consequence of liberalizing the initialization of static variables has been that final static variables are not reliably constant anymore. Const variables were introduced to compensate for this.

The language spec requires that variables be declared const to be treated as compile time constants, and that final variables not be treated as compile-time constants. See spec sections 5 & 10.1.

I would expect us to pursue a staged approach: first allow const variables, then revise our libraries, then revoke the constant status of static final variables (and then implement lazy initialization).

[gbracha]

Analyzer issue #3550
VM issue #3551
dart2js issue #3552

[anders-sandholm]

Issue #3394 has been merged into this issue.