C String Literal `const` Qualification: A Survey of Potential Impacts
2025-04-06

Martin Uecker has proposed changing the type of string literals in C to a const-qualified base type, mirroring C++. While compilers have long supported this (some even by default), this normative change could impact existing code. To gauge the impact, Uecker is seeking factual reports from developers on their experiences using compiler options for const qualification (e.g., GCC's -Wwrite-strings). The goal is to gather data on the ease of implementation, exposure of qualification bugs, and overall feasibility before proceeding with the proposal, prioritizing facts over opinions.