RE: Adding const to java

> Constant modifier is helpful in determining pure
> functions i.e. call with the same arguments are always
> results in the same value. So compiler can remove
> later calls in the context and use the first one's
> results.


> a = f.const_p();
> b = f.const_p(); // can be safely replaced by b = a


No, const functions can only guarantee that the object
on which the method is called will not be modified (f in your
example). The function could still have side effects (such
as printing to console) which would make it a non-pure function
(preventing your optimisation to be performed).

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