Simplified StringName literal for single word text

[tokengamedev]

Describe the project you are working on

Casual Game in 4.2

Describe the problem or limitation you are having in your project

Currently the StringName literals are identified as &"hello godot". It is well and fine.
For single word text, can it not be simplified by removing the quotes similar to Node Path like &hello_godot

Describe the feature / enhancement and how it helps to overcome the problem or limitation

It will help in reducing unnecessary quotes as in NodePath

Describe how your proposal will work, with code, pseudo-code, mock-ups, and/or diagrams

Support both the structure for String Name as given below

var str_name := &"Hello"

# Currently the below error outs as 'Expected expression for variable initial value after "=".'
var str_name := &Hello

If this enhancement will not be used often, can it be worked around with a few lines of script?

It will be used mostly as constants and keys to dictionary, where the text is not changing.

Is there a reason why this should be core and not an add-on in the asset library?

GDscript parser is part of core.

[dalexeev]

I had a similar idea, but after some thought I concluded that this syntax might confuse users that there are pointers/references in GDScript:

node_2d.set(&global_scale, Vector2(8, 2.5))
tween.tween_property($Sprite, ^position, Vector2(100, 200), 1)

The quotes more clearly indicate that these are just strings:

node_2d.set(&"global_scale", Vector2(8, 2.5))
tween.tween_property($Sprite, ^"position", Vector2(100, 200), 1)

[Mickeon]

Yeah. It first sounds good on paper but by all practical means, StringNames are Strings and a vast majority of users wouldn't want to even realise there's a distinction between the two, let alone seeing a somewhat "magical" symbol behind what is just one character away from referring to the value of a property.

[KoBeWi]

Duplicate of #4721 ;)

It will be used mostly as constants and keys to dictionary, where the text is not changing.

Note that currently Dictionaries will implicitly convert StringNames to Strings, making them actually slower: godotengine/godot#68834
There is a pending PR that fixes it, but it's still not merged.

[tokengamedev]

I am ok with it being not happening and getting closed, as people coming from C++ background will mistake as a referenced variable rather than StringName (not String), which is actually it is.
StringName is not a String, rather it is pointer to a string (correct me if I am wrong).
It is hard to distinguish between two, I will delve into the StringName code sometime, to understand better.

From #4721 I only got, that it was closed because nobody wants to add more colors, although few people liked the proposal. This is disappointing.

[KoBeWi]

#4721 is not closed and the colors were actually implemented. The syntax is still being discussed.