'Equals' in any-typed code: VERY BIG PROPOSAL

[Thomas W]

Hi John, Maurizio, people

Thanks for your comments on equals/ null.

> You are right that the "==" operator has some very sharp edges when we
try to unify references and primitives.  (So does "+".)
> On references, it is often used invalidly, and has valid uses for null
checks, short-cutting calls to x.equals(y), and work with interned types
(like enums).

Equality checking across values/ reftypes really would benefit from a clean
syntax.

I feel it is a hack to be writing a null- check, and we should avoid
encouraging null to be written in 'any' typed code!

Now, am I going to ask you to marry me?

No, but I am going to propose an 'eq' operator. Into the Java language. As
such:

    if (node.getKey() eq key) {
    if (name eq "") {
    if (product.getColor() eq color) {

As well as solving equals for 'any', such an operator would address one of
the biggest pain points for millions of application developers working in
Java.

Millions would cheer, and the world would thank us.

I would also consider a 'neq' not-equal operator. These one or two
operators are of such benefit & as by far the most important, can easily be
justified to stand on their own.

    if (value neq other.value) {

Clean scope, no need to bring in other operators/ comparisons, just a
compact & benefical feature..

Could this be the right time? We have a real requirement, an opportunity
for long-term benefit, and a release where bold changes can be accepted.

Regards
Thomas Whitmore