> There are very real differences between rebinding, reassignment, and mutation.
Hmm, what would be the difference between rebinding and reassignment in Erlang?
To avoid complication, it's simpler to just use "change" and understand that there are variables and data. The variables themselves may change or may not change. In Erlang they don't, while in Elixir they do. The data won't change in either language, unless we are playing with NIFs or use atomics or counters.
> All three are distinct from one another in meaningful ways, so reusing the same term is actually wrong and misleading
If we're talking in the context of Erlang is quite simple, it's enough to just say variables are immutable. When it comes to Elixir we need to add a distinction, and that complicates things. When talking about Javascript or C++ or other languages, then more nuances are needed.
> To avoid complication, it's simpler to just use "change" and understand that there are variables and data.
If you're just talking about Erlang, sure. But as soon as you're comparing languages to each other (which you are) then you have to use the precise terminology if you don't want to confuse people. You can complain about the need for the terminology, and you're certainly welcome to prefer the language that doesn't allow rebinding, but that doesn't actually make the terminology unnecessary.
Hmm, what would be the difference between rebinding and reassignment in Erlang?
To avoid complication, it's simpler to just use "change" and understand that there are variables and data. The variables themselves may change or may not change. In Erlang they don't, while in Elixir they do. The data won't change in either language, unless we are playing with NIFs or use atomics or counters.
> All three are distinct from one another in meaningful ways, so reusing the same term is actually wrong and misleading
If we're talking in the context of Erlang is quite simple, it's enough to just say variables are immutable. When it comes to Elixir we need to add a distinction, and that complicates things. When talking about Javascript or C++ or other languages, then more nuances are needed.