Merge branch 'constants'

README.md

@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ Related
 
 Other cool projects to check out:
 
-* [ChaiScript] - A strong inspiration for Rhai.  An embedded scripting language for C++ that I helped created many moons ago, now being lead by my cousin.
+* [ChaiScript](http://chaiscript.com/) - A strong inspiration for Rhai.  An embedded scripting language for C++ that I helped created many moons ago, now being lead by my cousin.
-* You can also check out the list of [scripting languages for Rust] on [awesome-rust].
+* You can also check out the list of [scripting languages for Rust](https://github.com/rust-unofficial/awesome-rust#scripting) on [awesome-rust](https://github.com/rust-unofficial/awesome-rust)
 
 Examples
 --------
@@ -597,6 +597,17 @@ Variables in Rhai follow normal naming rules (i.e. must contain only ASCII lette
 let x = 3;
 ```
 
+Constants
+---------
+
+Constants can be defined and are immutable.  Constants follow the same naming rules as [variables](#variables).
+
+```rust
+const x = 42;
+print(x * 2);   // prints 84
+x = 123;        // <- syntax error - cannot assign to constant
+```
+
 Numbers
 -------
 
@@ -1108,10 +1119,12 @@ The above script optimizes to:
 }
 ```
 
-Constant propagation is used to remove dead code:
+Constants propagation is used to remove dead code:
 
 ```rust
-if true || some_work() { print("done!"); }  // since '||' short-circuits, 'some_work' is never called
+const abc = true;
+if abc || some_work() { print("done!"); }   // 'abc' is constant so it is replaced by 'true'...
+if true || some_work() { print("done!"); }  // since '||' short-circuits, 'some_work' is never called because the LHS is 'true'
 if true { print("done!"); }                 // <-- the line above is equivalent to this
 print("done!");                             // <-- the line above is further simplified to this
                                             //     because the condition is always true
@@ -1169,10 +1182,6 @@ engine.set_optimization(false);     // turn off the optimizer
 ```
 
 
-[ChaiScript]: http://chaiscript.com/
-[scripting languages for Rust]: https://github.com/rust-unofficial/awesome-rust#scripting
-[awesome-rust]: https://github.com/rust-unofficial/awesome-rust
-
 [`num-traits`]: https://crates.io/crates/num-traits/
 [`debug_msgs`]: #optional-features
 [`unchecked`]: #optional-features

examples/repl.rs

@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ fn main() {
         }
 
         if let Err(err) = engine
-            .compile(&input)
+            .compile_with_scope(&scope, &input)
             .map_err(EvalAltResult::ErrorParsing)
             .and_then(|r| {
                 ast = Some(r);

scripts/primes.rhai

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // This is a script to calculate prime numbers.
 
-let MAX_NUMBER_TO_CHECK = 10000;    // 1229 primes
+const MAX_NUMBER_TO_CHECK = 10000;    // 1229 primes
 
 let prime_mask = [];
 prime_mask.pad(MAX_NUMBER_TO_CHECK, true);

src/api.rs

@@ -101,8 +101,14 @@ impl<'e> Engine<'e> {
 
     /// Compile a string into an AST.
     pub fn compile(&self, input: &str) -> Result<AST, ParseError> {
+        self.compile_with_scope(&Scope::new(), input)
+    }
+
+    /// Compile a string into an AST using own scope.
+    /// The scope is useful for passing constants into the script for optimization.
+    pub fn compile_with_scope(&self, scope: &Scope, input: &str) -> Result<AST, ParseError> {
         let tokens_stream = lex(input);
-        parse(&mut tokens_stream.peekable(), self.optimize)
+        parse(&mut tokens_stream.peekable(), scope, self.optimize)
     }
 
     fn read_file(path: PathBuf) -> Result<String, EvalAltResult> {
@@ -118,8 +124,20 @@ impl<'e> Engine<'e> {
 
     /// Compile a file into an AST.
     pub fn compile_file(&self, path: PathBuf) -> Result<AST, EvalAltResult> {
-        Self::read_file(path)
+        self.compile_file_with_scope(&Scope::new(), path)
-            .and_then(|contents| self.compile(&contents).map_err(|err| err.into()))
+    }
+
+    /// Compile a file into an AST using own scope.
+    /// The scope is useful for passing constants into the script for optimization.
+    pub fn compile_file_with_scope(
+        &self,
+        scope: &Scope,
+        path: PathBuf,
+    ) -> Result<AST, EvalAltResult> {
+        Self::read_file(path).and_then(|contents| {
+            self.compile_with_scope(scope, &contents)
+                .map_err(|err| err.into())
+        })
     }
 
     /// Evaluate a file.
@@ -235,7 +253,7 @@ impl<'e> Engine<'e> {
     ) -> Result<(), EvalAltResult> {
         let tokens_stream = lex(input);
 
-        let ast = parse(&mut tokens_stream.peekable(), self.optimize)
+        let ast = parse(&mut tokens_stream.peekable(), scope, self.optimize)
             .map_err(EvalAltResult::ErrorParsing)?;
 
         self.consume_ast_with_scope(scope, retain_functions, &ast)

src/engine.rs

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 use crate::any::{Any, AnyExt, Dynamic, Variant};
 use crate::parser::{Expr, FnDef, Position, ReturnType, Stmt};
 use crate::result::EvalAltResult;
-use crate::scope::Scope;
+use crate::scope::{Scope, VariableType};
 
 #[cfg(not(feature = "no_index"))]
 use crate::INT;
@@ -148,7 +148,8 @@ impl Engine<'_> {
                 fn_def
                     .params
                     .iter()
-                    .zip(args.iter().map(|x| (*x).into_dynamic())),
+                    .zip(args.iter().map(|x| (*x).into_dynamic()))
+                    .map(|(name, value)| (name, VariableType::Normal, value)),
             );
 
             // Evaluate
@@ -255,7 +256,7 @@ impl Engine<'_> {
             }
 
             // xxx.id
-            Expr::Identifier(id, pos) => {
+            Expr::Property(id, pos) => {
                 let get_fn_name = format!("{}{}", FUNC_GETTER, id);
 
                 self.call_fn_raw(&get_fn_name, vec![this_ptr], None, *pos)
@@ -266,7 +267,7 @@ impl Engine<'_> {
             Expr::Index(idx_lhs, idx_expr, idx_pos) => {
                 let (val, _) = match idx_lhs.as_ref() {
                     // xxx.id[idx_expr]
-                    Expr::Identifier(id, pos) => {
+                    Expr::Property(id, pos) => {
                         let get_fn_name = format!("{}{}", FUNC_GETTER, id);
                         (
                             self.call_fn_raw(&get_fn_name, vec![this_ptr], None, *pos)?,
@@ -294,7 +295,7 @@ impl Engine<'_> {
             // xxx.dot_lhs.rhs
             Expr::Dot(dot_lhs, rhs, _) => match dot_lhs.as_ref() {
                 // xxx.id.rhs
-                Expr::Identifier(id, pos) => {
+                Expr::Property(id, pos) => {
                     let get_fn_name = format!("{}{}", FUNC_GETTER, id);
 
                     self.call_fn_raw(&get_fn_name, vec![this_ptr], None, *pos)
@@ -305,7 +306,7 @@ impl Engine<'_> {
                 Expr::Index(idx_lhs, idx_expr, idx_pos) => {
                     let (val, _) = match idx_lhs.as_ref() {
                         // xxx.id[idx_expr].rhs
-                        Expr::Identifier(id, pos) => {
+                        Expr::Property(id, pos) => {
                             let get_fn_name = format!("{}{}", FUNC_GETTER, id);
                             (
                                 self.call_fn_raw(&get_fn_name, vec![this_ptr], None, *pos)?,
@@ -353,8 +354,8 @@ impl Engine<'_> {
     ) -> Result<Dynamic, EvalAltResult> {
         match dot_lhs {
             // id.???
-            Expr::Identifier(id, pos) => {
+            Expr::Variable(id, pos) => {
-                let (src_idx, mut target) = Self::search_scope(scope, id, Ok, *pos)?;
+                let (src_idx, _, mut target) = Self::search_scope(scope, id, Ok, *pos)?;
                 let val = self.get_dot_val_helper(scope, target.as_mut(), dot_rhs);
 
                 // In case the expression mutated `target`, we need to update it back into the scope because it is cloned.
@@ -400,11 +401,11 @@ impl Engine<'_> {
         id: &str,
         map: impl FnOnce(Dynamic) -> Result<T, EvalAltResult>,
         begin: Position,
-    ) -> Result<(usize, T), EvalAltResult> {
+    ) -> Result<(usize, VariableType, T), EvalAltResult> {
         scope
             .get(id)
             .ok_or_else(|| EvalAltResult::ErrorVariableNotFound(id.into(), begin))
-            .and_then(move |(idx, _, val)| map(val).map(|v| (idx, v)))
+            .and_then(move |(idx, _, var_type, val)| map(val).map(|v| (idx, var_type, v)))
     }
 
     /// Evaluate the value of an index (must evaluate to INT)
@@ -481,13 +482,13 @@ impl Engine<'_> {
 
         match lhs {
             // id[idx_expr]
-            Expr::Identifier(id, _) => Self::search_scope(
+            Expr::Variable(id, _) => Self::search_scope(
                 scope,
                 &id,
                 |val| self.get_indexed_value(&val, idx, idx_expr.position(), idx_pos),
                 lhs.position(),
             )
-            .map(|(src_idx, (val, src_type))| {
+            .map(|(src_idx, _, (val, src_type))| {
                 (src_type, Some((id.as_str(), src_idx)), idx as usize, val)
             }),
 
@@ -585,7 +586,7 @@ impl Engine<'_> {
     ) -> Result<Dynamic, EvalAltResult> {
         match dot_rhs {
             // xxx.id
-            Expr::Identifier(id, pos) => {
+            Expr::Property(id, pos) => {
                 let set_fn_name = format!("{}{}", FUNC_SETTER, id);
 
                 self.call_fn_raw(&set_fn_name, vec![this_ptr, new_val.as_mut()], None, *pos)
@@ -596,7 +597,7 @@ impl Engine<'_> {
             #[cfg(not(feature = "no_index"))]
             Expr::Index(lhs, idx_expr, idx_pos) => match lhs.as_ref() {
                 // xxx.id[idx_expr]
-                Expr::Identifier(id, pos) => {
+                Expr::Property(id, pos) => {
                     let get_fn_name = format!("{}{}", FUNC_GETTER, id);
 
                     self.call_fn_raw(&get_fn_name, vec![this_ptr], None, *pos)
@@ -620,7 +621,7 @@ impl Engine<'_> {
             // xxx.lhs.{...}
             Expr::Dot(lhs, rhs, _) => match lhs.as_ref() {
                 // xxx.id.rhs
-                Expr::Identifier(id, pos) => {
+                Expr::Property(id, pos) => {
                     let get_fn_name = format!("{}{}", FUNC_GETTER, id);
 
                     self.call_fn_raw(&get_fn_name, vec![this_ptr], None, *pos)
@@ -640,7 +641,7 @@ impl Engine<'_> {
                 #[cfg(not(feature = "no_index"))]
                 Expr::Index(lhs, idx_expr, idx_pos) => match lhs.as_ref() {
                     // xxx.id[idx_expr].rhs
-                    Expr::Identifier(id, pos) => {
+                    Expr::Property(id, pos) => {
                         let get_fn_name = format!("{}{}", FUNC_GETTER, id);
 
                         self.call_fn_raw(&get_fn_name, vec![this_ptr], None, *pos)
@@ -702,11 +703,23 @@ impl Engine<'_> {
         dot_rhs: &Expr,
         new_val: Dynamic,
         val_pos: Position,
+        op_pos: Position,
     ) -> Result<Dynamic, EvalAltResult> {
         match dot_lhs {
             // id.???
-            Expr::Identifier(id, pos) => {
+            Expr::Variable(id, pos) => {
-                let (src_idx, mut target) = Self::search_scope(scope, id, Ok, *pos)?;
+                let (src_idx, var_type, mut target) = Self::search_scope(scope, id, Ok, *pos)?;
+
+                match var_type {
+                    VariableType::Constant => {
+                        return Err(EvalAltResult::ErrorAssignmentToConstant(
+                            id.to_string(),
+                            op_pos,
+                        ))
+                    }
+                    _ => (),
+                }
+
                 let val =
                     self.set_dot_val_helper(scope, target.as_mut(), dot_rhs, new_val, val_pos);
 
@@ -758,9 +771,10 @@ impl Engine<'_> {
             Expr::IntegerConstant(i, _) => Ok(i.into_dynamic()),
             Expr::StringConstant(s, _) => Ok(s.into_dynamic()),
             Expr::CharConstant(c, _) => Ok(c.into_dynamic()),
-            Expr::Identifier(id, pos) => {
+            Expr::Variable(id, pos) => {
-                Self::search_scope(scope, id, Ok, *pos).map(|(_, val)| val)
+                Self::search_scope(scope, id, Ok, *pos).map(|(_, _, val)| val)
             }
+            Expr::Property(_, _) => panic!("unexpected property."),
 
             // lhs[idx_expr]
             #[cfg(not(feature = "no_index"))]
@@ -775,19 +789,21 @@ impl Engine<'_> {
             Expr::Stmt(stmt, _) => self.eval_stmt(scope, stmt),
 
             // lhs = rhs
-            Expr::Assignment(lhs, rhs, _) => {
+            Expr::Assignment(lhs, rhs, op_pos) => {
                 let rhs_val = self.eval_expr(scope, rhs)?;
 
                 match lhs.as_ref() {
                     // name = rhs
-                    Expr::Identifier(name, pos) => {
+                    Expr::Variable(name, pos) => match scope.get(name) {
-                        if let Some((idx, _, _)) = scope.get(name) {
+                        Some((idx, _, VariableType::Normal, _)) => {
                             *scope.get_mut(name, idx) = rhs_val;
                             Ok(().into_dynamic())
-                        } else {
-                            Err(EvalAltResult::ErrorVariableNotFound(name.clone(), *pos))
                         }
-                    }
+                        Some((_, _, VariableType::Constant, _)) => Err(
+                            EvalAltResult::ErrorAssignmentToConstant(name.to_string(), *op_pos),
+                        ),
+                        _ => Err(EvalAltResult::ErrorVariableNotFound(name.clone(), *pos)),
+                    },
 
                     // idx_lhs[idx_expr] = rhs
                     #[cfg(not(feature = "no_index"))]
@@ -814,9 +830,15 @@ impl Engine<'_> {
 
                     // dot_lhs.dot_rhs = rhs
                     Expr::Dot(dot_lhs, dot_rhs, _) => {
-                        self.set_dot_val(scope, dot_lhs, dot_rhs, rhs_val, rhs.position())
+                        self.set_dot_val(scope, dot_lhs, dot_rhs, rhs_val, rhs.position(), *op_pos)
                     }
 
+                    // Error assignment to constant
+                    expr if expr.is_constant() => Err(EvalAltResult::ErrorAssignmentToConstant(
+                        expr.get_value_str(),
+                        lhs.position(),
+                    )),
+
                     // Syntax error
                     _ => Err(EvalAltResult::ErrorAssignmentToUnknownLHS(lhs.position())),
                 }
@@ -1045,7 +1067,7 @@ impl Engine<'_> {
             // Let statement
             Stmt::Let(name, Some(expr), _) => {
                 let val = self.eval_expr(scope, expr)?;
-                scope.push_dynamic(name.clone(), val);
+                scope.push_dynamic(name.clone(), VariableType::Normal, val);
                 Ok(().into_dynamic())
             }
 
@@ -1053,6 +1075,15 @@ impl Engine<'_> {
                 scope.push(name.clone(), ());
                 Ok(().into_dynamic())
             }
+
+            // Const statement
+            Stmt::Const(name, expr, _) if expr.is_constant() => {
+                let val = self.eval_expr(scope, expr)?;
+                scope.push_dynamic(name.clone(), VariableType::Constant, val);
+                Ok(().into_dynamic())
+            }
+
+            Stmt::Const(_, _, _) => panic!("constant expression not constant!"),
         }
     }
 

src/error.rs

@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ pub enum ParseErrorType {
     MalformedCallExpr(String),
     /// An expression in indexing brackets `[]` has syntax error.
     MalformedIndexExpr(String),
+    /// Invalid expression assigned to constant.
+    ForbiddenConstantExpr(String),
     /// Missing a variable name after the `let` keyword.
     VarExpectsIdentifier,
     /// Defining a function `fn` in an appropriate place (e.g. inside another function).
@@ -77,6 +79,10 @@ pub enum ParseErrorType {
     FnMissingParams(String),
     /// Assignment to an inappropriate LHS (left-hand-side) expression.
     AssignmentToInvalidLHS,
+    /// Assignment to a copy of a value.
+    AssignmentToCopy,
+    /// Assignment to an a constant variable.
+    AssignmentToConstant(String),
 }
 
 /// Error when parsing a script.
@@ -112,11 +118,14 @@ impl Error for ParseError {
             ParseErrorType::MissingRightBracket(_) => "Expecting ']'",
             ParseErrorType::MalformedCallExpr(_) => "Invalid expression in function call arguments",
             ParseErrorType::MalformedIndexExpr(_) => "Invalid index in indexing expression",
+            ParseErrorType::ForbiddenConstantExpr(_) => "Expecting a constant",
             ParseErrorType::VarExpectsIdentifier => "Expecting name of a variable",
             ParseErrorType::FnMissingName => "Expecting name in function declaration",
             ParseErrorType::FnMissingParams(_) => "Expecting parameters in function declaration",
             ParseErrorType::WrongFnDefinition => "Function definitions must be at top level and cannot be inside a block or another function",
-            ParseErrorType::AssignmentToInvalidLHS => "Cannot assign to this expression because it will only be changing a copy of the value"
+            ParseErrorType::AssignmentToInvalidLHS => "Cannot assign to this expression",
+            ParseErrorType::AssignmentToCopy => "Cannot assign to this expression because it will only be changing a copy of the value",
+            ParseErrorType::AssignmentToConstant(_) => "Cannot assign to a constant variable."
         }
     }
 
@@ -133,6 +142,9 @@ impl fmt::Display for ParseError {
             | ParseErrorType::MalformedCallExpr(ref s) => {
                 write!(f, "{}", if s.is_empty() { self.description() } else { s })?
             }
+            ParseErrorType::ForbiddenConstantExpr(ref s) => {
+                write!(f, "Expecting a constant to assign to '{}'", s)?
+            }
             ParseErrorType::UnknownOperator(ref s) => write!(f, "{}: '{}'", self.description(), s)?,
             ParseErrorType::FnMissingParams(ref s) => {
                 write!(f, "Expecting parameters for function '{}'", s)?
@@ -142,6 +154,12 @@ impl fmt::Display for ParseError {
             | ParseErrorType::MissingRightBracket(ref s) => {
                 write!(f, "{} for {}", self.description(), s)?
             }
+            ParseErrorType::AssignmentToConstant(ref s) if s.is_empty() => {
+                write!(f, "{}", self.description())?
+            }
+            ParseErrorType::AssignmentToConstant(ref s) => {
+                write!(f, "Cannot assign to constant '{}'", s)?
+            }
             _ => write!(f, "{}", self.description())?,
         }
 

src/optimize.rs

@@ -1,13 +1,52 @@
 use crate::engine::KEYWORD_DUMP_AST;
 use crate::parser::{Expr, Stmt};
+use crate::scope::{Scope, ScopeEntry, VariableType};
 
-fn optimize_stmt(stmt: Stmt, changed: &mut bool, preserve_result: bool) -> Stmt {
+struct State {
+    changed: bool,
+    constants: Vec<(String, Expr)>,
+}
+
+impl State {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        State {
+            changed: false,
+            constants: vec![],
+        }
+    }
+    pub fn set_dirty(&mut self) {
+        self.changed = true;
+    }
+    pub fn is_dirty(&self) -> bool {
+        self.changed
+    }
+    pub fn contains_constant(&self, name: &str) -> bool {
+        self.constants.iter().any(|(n, _)| n == name)
+    }
+    pub fn restore_constants(&mut self, len: usize) {
+        self.constants.truncate(len)
+    }
+    pub fn push_constant(&mut self, name: &str, value: Expr) {
+        self.constants.push((name.to_string(), value))
+    }
+    pub fn find_constant(&self, name: &str) -> Option<&Expr> {
+        for (n, expr) in self.constants.iter().rev() {
+            if n == name {
+                return Some(expr);
+            }
+        }
+
+        None
+    }
+}
+
+fn optimize_stmt(stmt: Stmt, state: &mut State, preserve_result: bool) -> Stmt {
     match stmt {
         Stmt::IfElse(expr, stmt1, None) if stmt1.is_noop() => {
-            *changed = true;
+            state.set_dirty();
 
             let pos = expr.position();
-            let expr = optimize_expr(*expr, changed);
+            let expr = optimize_expr(*expr, state);
 
             match expr {
                 Expr::False(_) | Expr::True(_) => Stmt::Noop(stmt1.position()),
@@ -25,24 +64,24 @@ fn optimize_stmt(stmt: Stmt, changed: &mut bool, preserve_result: bool) -> Stmt
 
         Stmt::IfElse(expr, stmt1, None) => match *expr {
             Expr::False(pos) => {
-                *changed = true;
+                state.set_dirty();
                 Stmt::Noop(pos)
             }
-            Expr::True(_) => optimize_stmt(*stmt1, changed, true),
+            Expr::True(_) => optimize_stmt(*stmt1, state, true),
             expr => Stmt::IfElse(
-                Box::new(optimize_expr(expr, changed)),
+                Box::new(optimize_expr(expr, state)),
-                Box::new(optimize_stmt(*stmt1, changed, true)),
+                Box::new(optimize_stmt(*stmt1, state, true)),
                 None,
             ),
         },
 
         Stmt::IfElse(expr, stmt1, Some(stmt2)) => match *expr {
-            Expr::False(_) => optimize_stmt(*stmt2, changed, true),
+            Expr::False(_) => optimize_stmt(*stmt2, state, true),
-            Expr::True(_) => optimize_stmt(*stmt1, changed, true),
+            Expr::True(_) => optimize_stmt(*stmt1, state, true),
             expr => Stmt::IfElse(
-                Box::new(optimize_expr(expr, changed)),
+                Box::new(optimize_expr(expr, state)),
-                Box::new(optimize_stmt(*stmt1, changed, true)),
+                Box::new(optimize_stmt(*stmt1, state, true)),
-                match optimize_stmt(*stmt2, changed, true) {
+                match optimize_stmt(*stmt2, state, true) {
                     stmt if stmt.is_noop() => None,
                     stmt => Some(Box::new(stmt)),
                 },
@@ -51,38 +90,45 @@ fn optimize_stmt(stmt: Stmt, changed: &mut bool, preserve_result: bool) -> Stmt
 
         Stmt::While(expr, stmt) => match *expr {
             Expr::False(pos) => {
-                *changed = true;
+                state.set_dirty();
                 Stmt::Noop(pos)
             }
-            Expr::True(_) => Stmt::Loop(Box::new(optimize_stmt(*stmt, changed, false))),
+            Expr::True(_) => Stmt::Loop(Box::new(optimize_stmt(*stmt, state, false))),
             expr => Stmt::While(
-                Box::new(optimize_expr(expr, changed)),
+                Box::new(optimize_expr(expr, state)),
-                Box::new(optimize_stmt(*stmt, changed, false)),
+                Box::new(optimize_stmt(*stmt, state, false)),
             ),
         },
 
-        Stmt::Loop(stmt) => Stmt::Loop(Box::new(optimize_stmt(*stmt, changed, false))),
+        Stmt::Loop(stmt) => Stmt::Loop(Box::new(optimize_stmt(*stmt, state, false))),
         Stmt::For(id, expr, stmt) => Stmt::For(
             id,
-            Box::new(optimize_expr(*expr, changed)),
+            Box::new(optimize_expr(*expr, state)),
-            Box::new(optimize_stmt(*stmt, changed, false)),
+            Box::new(optimize_stmt(*stmt, state, false)),
         ),
         Stmt::Let(id, Some(expr), pos) => {
-            Stmt::Let(id, Some(Box::new(optimize_expr(*expr, changed))), pos)
+            Stmt::Let(id, Some(Box::new(optimize_expr(*expr, state))), pos)
         }
         Stmt::Let(_, None, _) => stmt,
 
         Stmt::Block(statements, pos) => {
             let orig_len = statements.len();
+            let orig_constants = state.constants.len();
 
             let mut result: Vec<_> = statements
                 .into_iter() // For each statement
-                .rev() // Scan in reverse
+                .map(|stmt| {
-                .map(|s| optimize_stmt(s, changed, preserve_result)) // Optimize the statement
+                    if let Stmt::Const(name, value, pos) = stmt {
+                        state.push_constant(&name, *value);
+                        state.set_dirty();
+                        Stmt::Noop(pos) // No need to keep constants
+                    } else {
+                        optimize_stmt(stmt, state, preserve_result) // Optimize the statement
+                    }
+                })
                 .enumerate()
-                .filter(|(i, s)| s.is_op() || (preserve_result && *i == 0)) // Remove no-op's but leave the last one if we need the result
+                .filter(|(i, stmt)| stmt.is_op() || (preserve_result && *i == orig_len - 1)) // Remove no-op's but leave the last one if we need the result
-                .map(|(_, s)| s)
+                .map(|(_, stmt)| stmt)
-                .rev()
                 .collect();
 
             // Remove all raw expression statements that are pure except for the very last statement
@@ -123,59 +169,61 @@ fn optimize_stmt(stmt: Stmt, changed: &mut bool, preserve_result: bool) -> Stmt
                     .into_iter()
                     .rev()
                     .enumerate()
-                    .map(|(i, s)| optimize_stmt(s, changed, i == 0)) // Optimize all other statements again
+                    .map(|(i, s)| optimize_stmt(s, state, i == 0)) // Optimize all other statements again
                     .rev()
                     .collect();
             }
 
-            *changed = *changed || orig_len != result.len();
+            if orig_len != result.len() {
+                state.set_dirty();
+            }
+
+            state.restore_constants(orig_constants);
 
             match result[..] {
                 // No statements in block - change to No-op
                 [] => {
-                    *changed = true;
+                    state.set_dirty();
                     Stmt::Noop(pos)
                 }
                 // Only one statement - promote
                 [_] => {
-                    *changed = true;
+                    state.set_dirty();
                     result.remove(0)
                 }
                 _ => Stmt::Block(result, pos),
             }
         }
 
-        Stmt::Expr(expr) => Stmt::Expr(Box::new(optimize_expr(*expr, changed))),
+        Stmt::Expr(expr) => Stmt::Expr(Box::new(optimize_expr(*expr, state))),
 
-        Stmt::ReturnWithVal(Some(expr), is_return, pos) => Stmt::ReturnWithVal(
+        Stmt::ReturnWithVal(Some(expr), is_return, pos) => {
-            Some(Box::new(optimize_expr(*expr, changed))),
+            Stmt::ReturnWithVal(Some(Box::new(optimize_expr(*expr, state))), is_return, pos)
-            is_return,
+        }
-            pos,
-        ),
 
         stmt => stmt,
     }
 }
 
-fn optimize_expr(expr: Expr, changed: &mut bool) -> Expr {
+fn optimize_expr(expr: Expr, state: &mut State) -> Expr {
     match expr {
-        Expr::Stmt(stmt, pos) => match optimize_stmt(*stmt, changed, true) {
+        Expr::Stmt(stmt, pos) => match optimize_stmt(*stmt, state, true) {
             Stmt::Noop(_) => {
-                *changed = true;
+                state.set_dirty();
                 Expr::Unit(pos)
             }
             Stmt::Expr(expr) => {
-                *changed = true;
+                state.set_dirty();
                 *expr
             }
             stmt => Expr::Stmt(Box::new(stmt), pos),
         },
         Expr::Assignment(id, expr, pos) => {
-            Expr::Assignment(id, Box::new(optimize_expr(*expr, changed)), pos)
+            Expr::Assignment(id, Box::new(optimize_expr(*expr, state)), pos)
         }
         Expr::Dot(lhs, rhs, pos) => Expr::Dot(
-            Box::new(optimize_expr(*lhs, changed)),
+            Box::new(optimize_expr(*lhs, state)),
-            Box::new(optimize_expr(*rhs, changed)),
+            Box::new(optimize_expr(*rhs, state)),
             pos,
         ),
 
@@ -186,12 +234,12 @@ fn optimize_expr(expr: Expr, changed: &mut bool) -> Expr {
             {
                 // Array where everything is a pure - promote the indexed item.
                 // All other items can be thrown away.
-                *changed = true;
+                state.set_dirty();
                 items.remove(i as usize)
             }
             (lhs, rhs) => Expr::Index(
-                Box::new(optimize_expr(lhs, changed)),
+                Box::new(optimize_expr(lhs, state)),
-                Box::new(optimize_expr(rhs, changed)),
+                Box::new(optimize_expr(rhs, state)),
                 pos,
             ),
         },
@@ -204,10 +252,12 @@ fn optimize_expr(expr: Expr, changed: &mut bool) -> Expr {
 
             let items: Vec<_> = items
                 .into_iter()
-                .map(|expr| optimize_expr(expr, changed))
+                .map(|expr| optimize_expr(expr, state))
                 .collect();
 
-            *changed = *changed || orig_len != items.len();
+            if orig_len != items.len() {
+                state.set_dirty();
+            }
 
             Expr::Array(items, pos)
         }
@@ -217,38 +267,38 @@ fn optimize_expr(expr: Expr, changed: &mut bool) -> Expr {
 
         Expr::And(lhs, rhs) => match (*lhs, *rhs) {
             (Expr::True(_), rhs) => {
-                *changed = true;
+                state.set_dirty();
                 rhs
             }
             (Expr::False(pos), _) => {
-                *changed = true;
+                state.set_dirty();
                 Expr::False(pos)
             }
             (lhs, Expr::True(_)) => {
-                *changed = true;
+                state.set_dirty();
                 lhs
             }
             (lhs, rhs) => Expr::And(
-                Box::new(optimize_expr(lhs, changed)),
+                Box::new(optimize_expr(lhs, state)),
-                Box::new(optimize_expr(rhs, changed)),
+                Box::new(optimize_expr(rhs, state)),
             ),
         },
         Expr::Or(lhs, rhs) => match (*lhs, *rhs) {
             (Expr::False(_), rhs) => {
-                *changed = true;
+                state.set_dirty();
                 rhs
             }
             (Expr::True(pos), _) => {
-                *changed = true;
+                state.set_dirty();
                 Expr::True(pos)
             }
             (lhs, Expr::False(_)) => {
-                *changed = true;
+                state.set_dirty();
                 lhs
             }
             (lhs, rhs) => Expr::Or(
-                Box::new(optimize_expr(lhs, changed)),
+                Box::new(optimize_expr(lhs, state)),
-                Box::new(optimize_expr(rhs, changed)),
+                Box::new(optimize_expr(rhs, state)),
             ),
         },
 
@@ -258,41 +308,69 @@ fn optimize_expr(expr: Expr, changed: &mut bool) -> Expr {
         Expr::FunctionCall(id, args, def_value, pos) => {
             let orig_len = args.len();
 
-            let args: Vec<_> = args
+            let args: Vec<_> = args.into_iter().map(|a| optimize_expr(a, state)).collect();
-                .into_iter()
-                .map(|a| optimize_expr(a, changed))
-                .collect();
 
-            *changed = *changed || orig_len != args.len();
+            if orig_len != args.len() {
+                state.set_dirty();
+            }
 
             Expr::FunctionCall(id, args, def_value, pos)
         }
 
+        Expr::Variable(ref name, _) if state.contains_constant(name) => {
+            state.set_dirty();
+
+            // Replace constant with value
+            state
+                .find_constant(name)
+                .expect("can't find constant in scope!")
+                .clone()
+        }
+
         expr => expr,
     }
 }
 
-pub(crate) fn optimize(statements: Vec<Stmt>) -> Vec<Stmt> {
+pub(crate) fn optimize(statements: Vec<Stmt>, scope: &Scope) -> Vec<Stmt> {
     let mut result = statements;
 
     loop {
-        let mut changed = false;
+        let mut state = State::new();
+        let num_statements = result.len();
+
+        scope
+            .iter()
+            .filter(|ScopeEntry { var_type, expr, .. }| {
+                // Get all the constants with definite constant expressions
+                *var_type == VariableType::Constant
+                    && expr.as_ref().map(|e| e.is_constant()).unwrap_or(false)
+            })
+            .for_each(|ScopeEntry { name, expr, .. }| {
+                state.push_constant(
+                    name.as_ref(),
+                    expr.as_ref().expect("should be Some(expr)").clone(),
+                )
+            });
 
         result = result
             .into_iter()
-            .rev() // Scan in reverse
             .enumerate()
             .map(|(i, stmt)| {
-                // Keep all variable declarations at this level
+                if let Stmt::Const(name, value, _) = &stmt {
-                let keep = stmt.is_var();
+                    // Load constants
+                    state.push_constant(name, value.as_ref().clone());
+                    stmt // Keep it in the top scope
+                } else {
+                    // Keep all variable declarations at this level
+                    // and always keep the last return value
+                    let keep = stmt.is_var() || i == num_statements - 1;
 
-                // Always keep the last return value
+                    optimize_stmt(stmt, &mut state, keep)
-                optimize_stmt(stmt, &mut changed, keep || i == 0)
+                }
             })
-            .rev()
             .collect();
 
-        if !changed {
+        if !state.is_dirty() {
             break;
         }
     }

src/parser.rs

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 use crate::any::Dynamic;
 use crate::error::{LexError, ParseError, ParseErrorType};
 use crate::optimize::optimize;
+use crate::scope::{Scope, VariableType};
 
 use std::{
     borrow::Cow, char, cmp::Ordering, fmt, iter::Peekable, str::Chars, str::FromStr, sync::Arc,
@@ -148,6 +149,42 @@ pub struct AST(
     #[cfg(not(feature = "no_function"))] pub(crate) Vec<Arc<FnDef>>,
 );
 
+impl AST {
+    /// Optimize the AST with constants defined in an external Scope.
+    ///
+    /// Although optimization is performed by default during compilation, sometimes it is necessary to
+    /// "re"-optimize an AST. For example, when working with constants that are passed in via an
+    /// external scope, it will be more efficient to optimize the AST once again to take advantage
+    /// of the new constants.
+    ///
+    /// With this method, it is no longer necessary to regenerate a large script with hard-coded
+    /// constant values. The script AST can be compiled once and stored. During actually evaluation,
+    /// constants are passed into the Engine via an external scope (i.e. with `scope.push_constant(...)`).
+    /// Then, the AST is cloned and the copy re-optimized before running.
+    pub fn optimize(self, scope: &Scope) -> Self {
+        AST(
+            crate::optimize::optimize(self.0, scope),
+            #[cfg(not(feature = "no_function"))]
+            self.1
+                .into_iter()
+                .map(|fn_def| {
+                    let pos = fn_def.body.position();
+                    let body = optimize(vec![fn_def.body.clone()], scope)
+                        .into_iter()
+                        .next()
+                        .unwrap_or_else(|| Stmt::Noop(pos));
+                    Arc::new(FnDef {
+                        name: fn_def.name.clone(),
+                        params: fn_def.params.clone(),
+                        body,
+                        pos: fn_def.pos,
+                    })
+                })
+                .collect(),
+        )
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug)] // Do not derive Clone because it is expensive
 pub struct FnDef {
     pub name: String,
@@ -179,6 +216,7 @@ pub enum Stmt {
     Loop(Box<Stmt>),
     For(String, Box<Expr>, Box<Stmt>),
     Let(String, Option<Box<Expr>>, Position),
+    Const(String, Box<Expr>, Position),
     Block(Vec<Stmt>, Position),
     Expr(Box<Expr>),
     Break(Position),
@@ -211,6 +249,7 @@ impl Stmt {
         match self {
             Stmt::Noop(pos)
             | Stmt::Let(_, _, pos)
+            | Stmt::Const(_, _, pos)
             | Stmt::Block(_, pos)
             | Stmt::Break(pos)
             | Stmt::ReturnWithVal(_, _, pos) => *pos,
@@ -225,7 +264,8 @@ pub enum Expr {
     IntegerConstant(INT, Position),
     #[cfg(not(feature = "no_float"))]
     FloatConstant(FLOAT, Position),
-    Identifier(String, Position),
+    Variable(String, Position),
+    Property(String, Position),
     CharConstant(char, Position),
     StringConstant(String, Position),
     Stmt(Box<Stmt>, Position),
@@ -242,12 +282,29 @@ pub enum Expr {
 }
 
 impl Expr {
+    pub fn get_value_str(&self) -> String {
+        match self {
+            Expr::IntegerConstant(i, _) => i.to_string(),
+            Expr::CharConstant(c, _) => c.to_string(),
+            Expr::StringConstant(_, _) => "string".to_string(),
+            Expr::True(_) => "true".to_string(),
+            Expr::False(_) => "false".to_string(),
+            Expr::Unit(_) => "()".to_string(),
+
+            #[cfg(not(feature = "no_float"))]
+            Expr::FloatConstant(f, _) => f.to_string(),
+
+            _ => "".to_string(),
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn position(&self) -> Position {
         match self {
             Expr::IntegerConstant(_, pos)
-            | Expr::Identifier(_, pos)
             | Expr::CharConstant(_, pos)
             | Expr::StringConstant(_, pos)
+            | Expr::Variable(_, pos)
+            | Expr::Property(_, pos)
             | Expr::Stmt(_, pos)
             | Expr::FunctionCall(_, _, _, pos)
             | Expr::Array(_, pos)
@@ -273,7 +330,7 @@ impl Expr {
         match self {
             Expr::Array(expressions, _) => expressions.iter().all(Expr::is_pure),
             Expr::And(x, y) | Expr::Or(x, y) | Expr::Index(x, y, _) => x.is_pure() && y.is_pure(),
-            expr => expr.is_constant() || expr.is_identifier(),
+            expr => expr.is_constant() || expr.is_variable(),
         }
     }
 
@@ -292,9 +349,17 @@ impl Expr {
             _ => false,
         }
     }
-    pub fn is_identifier(&self) -> bool {
+
+    pub fn is_variable(&self) -> bool {
         match self {
-            Expr::Identifier(_, _) => true,
+            Expr::Variable(_, _) => true,
+            _ => false,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn is_property(&self) -> bool {
+        match self {
+            Expr::Property(_, _) => true,
             _ => false,
         }
     }
@@ -328,6 +393,7 @@ pub enum Token {
     True,
     False,
     Let,
+    Const,
     If,
     Else,
     While,
@@ -402,6 +468,7 @@ impl Token {
                 True => "true",
                 False => "false",
                 Let => "let",
+                Const => "const",
                 If => "if",
                 Else => "else",
                 While => "while",
@@ -829,6 +896,7 @@ impl<'a> TokenIterator<'a> {
                             "true" => Token::True,
                             "false" => Token::False,
                             "let" => Token::Let,
+                            "const" => Token::Const,
                             "if" => Token::If,
                             "else" => Token::Else,
                             "while" => Token::While,
@@ -1360,10 +1428,10 @@ fn parse_ident_expr<'a>(
         #[cfg(not(feature = "no_index"))]
         Some(&(Token::LeftBracket, pos)) => {
             input.next();
-            parse_index_expr(Box::new(Expr::Identifier(id, begin)), input, pos)
+            parse_index_expr(Box::new(Expr::Variable(id, begin)), input, pos)
         }
-        Some(_) => Ok(Expr::Identifier(id, begin)),
+        Some(_) => Ok(Expr::Variable(id, begin)),
-        None => Ok(Expr::Identifier(id, Position::eof())),
+        None => Ok(Expr::Variable(id, Position::eof())),
     }
 }
 
@@ -1522,37 +1590,69 @@ fn parse_unary<'a>(input: &mut Peekable<TokenIterator<'a>>) -> Result<Expr, Pars
 }
 
 fn parse_assignment(lhs: Expr, rhs: Expr, pos: Position) -> Result<Expr, ParseError> {
-    fn valid_assignment_chain(expr: &Expr) -> (bool, Position) {
+    fn valid_assignment_chain(expr: &Expr, is_top: bool) -> Option<ParseError> {
         match expr {
-            Expr::Identifier(_, pos) => (true, *pos),
+            Expr::Variable(_, _) => {
+                assert!(is_top, "property expected but gets variable");
+                None
+            }
+            Expr::Property(_, _) => {
+                assert!(!is_top, "variable expected but gets property");
+                None
+            }
 
             #[cfg(not(feature = "no_index"))]
-            Expr::Index(idx_lhs, _, _) if idx_lhs.is_identifier() => (true, idx_lhs.position()),
+            Expr::Index(idx_lhs, _, _) if idx_lhs.is_variable() => {
+                assert!(is_top, "property expected but gets variable");
+                None
+            }
+
             #[cfg(not(feature = "no_index"))]
-            Expr::Index(idx_lhs, _, _) => (false, idx_lhs.position()),
+            Expr::Index(idx_lhs, _, _) if idx_lhs.is_property() => {
+                assert!(!is_top, "variable expected but gets property");
+                None
+            }
+
+            #[cfg(not(feature = "no_index"))]
+            Expr::Index(idx_lhs, _, _) if is_top => valid_assignment_chain(idx_lhs, true),
+
+            #[cfg(not(feature = "no_index"))]
+            Expr::Index(idx_lhs, _, _) if !is_top => Some(ParseError::new(
+                ParseErrorType::AssignmentToInvalidLHS,
+                idx_lhs.position(),
+            )),
 
             Expr::Dot(dot_lhs, dot_rhs, _) => match dot_lhs.as_ref() {
-                Expr::Identifier(_, _) => valid_assignment_chain(dot_rhs),
+                Expr::Variable(_, _) if is_top => valid_assignment_chain(dot_rhs, false),
+                Expr::Property(_, _) if !is_top => valid_assignment_chain(dot_rhs, false),
 
                 #[cfg(not(feature = "no_index"))]
-                Expr::Index(idx_lhs, _, _) if idx_lhs.is_identifier() => {
+                Expr::Index(idx_lhs, _, _)
-                    valid_assignment_chain(dot_rhs)
+                    if (idx_lhs.is_variable() && is_top) || (idx_lhs.is_property() && !is_top) =>
+                {
+                    valid_assignment_chain(dot_rhs, false)
                 }
                 #[cfg(not(feature = "no_index"))]
-                Expr::Index(idx_lhs, _, _) => (false, idx_lhs.position()),
+                Expr::Index(idx_lhs, _, _) => Some(ParseError::new(
+                    ParseErrorType::AssignmentToCopy,
+                    idx_lhs.position(),
+                )),
 
-                _ => (false, dot_lhs.position()),
+                expr => panic!("unexpected dot expression {:#?}", expr),
             },
 
-            _ => (false, expr.position()),
+            _ => Some(ParseError::new(
+                ParseErrorType::AssignmentToInvalidLHS,
+                expr.position(),
+            )),
         }
     }
 
     //println!("{:#?} = {:#?}", lhs, rhs);
 
-    match valid_assignment_chain(&lhs) {
+    match valid_assignment_chain(&lhs, true) {
-        (true, _) => Ok(Expr::Assignment(Box::new(lhs), Box::new(rhs), pos)),
+        None => Ok(Expr::Assignment(Box::new(lhs), Box::new(rhs), pos)),
-        (false, pos) => Err(ParseError::new(PERR::AssignmentToInvalidLHS, pos)),
+        Some(err) => Err(err),
     }
 }
 
@@ -1619,7 +1719,28 @@ fn parse_binary_op<'a>(
                 Token::PlusAssign => parse_op_assignment("+", current_lhs, rhs, pos)?,
                 Token::MinusAssign => parse_op_assignment("-", current_lhs, rhs, pos)?,
 
-                Token::Period => Expr::Dot(Box::new(current_lhs), Box::new(rhs), pos),
+                Token::Period => {
+                    fn change_var_to_property(expr: Expr) -> Expr {
+                        match expr {
+                            Expr::Dot(lhs, rhs, pos) => Expr::Dot(
+                                Box::new(change_var_to_property(*lhs)),
+                                Box::new(change_var_to_property(*rhs)),
+                                pos,
+                            ),
+                            Expr::Index(lhs, idx, pos) => {
+                                Expr::Index(Box::new(change_var_to_property(*lhs)), idx, pos)
+                            }
+                            Expr::Variable(s, pos) => Expr::Property(s, pos),
+                            expr => expr,
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                    Expr::Dot(
+                        Box::new(current_lhs),
+                        Box::new(change_var_to_property(rhs)),
+                        pos,
+                    )
+                }
 
                 // Comparison operators default to false when passed invalid operands
                 Token::EqualsTo => Expr::FunctionCall(
@@ -1763,7 +1884,10 @@ fn parse_for<'a>(input: &mut Peekable<TokenIterator<'a>>) -> Result<Stmt, ParseE
     Ok(Stmt::For(name, Box::new(expr), Box::new(body)))
 }
 
-fn parse_var<'a>(input: &mut Peekable<TokenIterator<'a>>) -> Result<Stmt, ParseError> {
+fn parse_var<'a>(
+    input: &mut Peekable<TokenIterator<'a>>,
+    var_type: VariableType,
+) -> Result<Stmt, ParseError> {
     let pos = match input.next() {
         Some((_, tok_pos)) => tok_pos,
         _ => return Err(ParseError::new(PERR::InputPastEndOfFile, Position::eof())),
@@ -1779,7 +1903,19 @@ fn parse_var<'a>(input: &mut Peekable<TokenIterator<'a>>) -> Result<Stmt, ParseE
         Some(&(Token::Equals, _)) => {
             input.next();
             let init_value = parse_expr(input)?;
-            Ok(Stmt::Let(name, Some(Box::new(init_value)), pos))
+
+            match var_type {
+                VariableType::Normal => Ok(Stmt::Let(name, Some(Box::new(init_value)), pos)),
+
+                VariableType::Constant if init_value.is_constant() => {
+                    Ok(Stmt::Const(name, Box::new(init_value), pos))
+                }
+                // Constants require a constant expression
+                VariableType::Constant => Err(ParseError(
+                    PERR::ForbiddenConstantExpr(name.to_string()),
+                    init_value.position(),
+                )),
+            }
         }
         _ => Ok(Stmt::Let(name, None, pos)),
     }
@@ -1867,7 +2003,8 @@ fn parse_stmt<'a>(input: &mut Peekable<TokenIterator<'a>>) -> Result<Stmt, Parse
             }
         }
         Some(&(Token::LeftBrace, _)) => parse_block(input),
-        Some(&(Token::Let, _)) => parse_var(input),
+        Some(&(Token::Let, _)) => parse_var(input, VariableType::Normal),
+        Some(&(Token::Const, _)) => parse_var(input, VariableType::Constant),
         _ => parse_expr_stmt(input),
     }
 }
@@ -1943,6 +2080,7 @@ fn parse_fn<'a>(input: &mut Peekable<TokenIterator<'a>>) -> Result<FnDef, ParseE
 
 fn parse_top_level<'a>(
     input: &mut Peekable<TokenIterator<'a>>,
+    scope: &Scope,
     optimize_ast: bool,
 ) -> Result<AST, ParseError> {
     let mut statements = Vec::<Stmt>::new();
@@ -1973,7 +2111,7 @@ fn parse_top_level<'a>(
 
     return Ok(AST(
         if optimize_ast {
-            optimize(statements)
+            optimize(statements, &scope)
         } else {
             statements
         },
@@ -1983,7 +2121,7 @@ fn parse_top_level<'a>(
             .map(|mut fn_def| {
                 if optimize_ast {
                     let pos = fn_def.body.position();
-                    let mut body = optimize(vec![fn_def.body]);
+                    let mut body = optimize(vec![fn_def.body], &scope);
                     fn_def.body = body.pop().unwrap_or_else(|| Stmt::Noop(pos));
                 }
                 Arc::new(fn_def)
@@ -1994,7 +2132,8 @@ fn parse_top_level<'a>(
 
 pub fn parse<'a>(
     input: &mut Peekable<TokenIterator<'a>>,
+    scope: &Scope,
     optimize_ast: bool,
 ) -> Result<AST, ParseError> {
-    parse_top_level(input, optimize_ast)
+    parse_top_level(input, scope, optimize_ast)
 }

src/result.rs

@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ pub enum EvalAltResult {
     ErrorVariableNotFound(String, Position),
     /// Assignment to an inappropriate LHS (left-hand-side) expression.
     ErrorAssignmentToUnknownLHS(Position),
+    /// Assignment to a constant variable.
+    ErrorAssignmentToConstant(String, Position),
     /// Returned type is not the same as the required output type.
     /// Wrapped value is the type of the actual result.
     ErrorMismatchOutputType(String, Position),
@@ -89,6 +91,7 @@ impl Error for EvalAltResult {
             Self::ErrorAssignmentToUnknownLHS(_) => {
                 "Assignment to an unsupported left-hand side expression"
             }
+            Self::ErrorAssignmentToConstant(_, _) => "Assignment to a constant variable",
             Self::ErrorMismatchOutputType(_, _) => "Output type is incorrect",
             Self::ErrorReadingScriptFile(_, _) => "Cannot read from script file",
             Self::ErrorDotExpr(_, _) => "Malformed dot expression",
@@ -116,6 +119,7 @@ impl fmt::Display for EvalAltResult {
             Self::ErrorIfGuard(pos) => write!(f, "{} ({})", desc, pos),
             Self::ErrorFor(pos) => write!(f, "{} ({})", desc, pos),
             Self::ErrorAssignmentToUnknownLHS(pos) => write!(f, "{} ({})", desc, pos),
+            Self::ErrorAssignmentToConstant(s, pos) => write!(f, "{}: '{}' ({})", desc, s, pos),
             Self::ErrorMismatchOutputType(s, pos) => write!(f, "{}: {} ({})", desc, s, pos),
             Self::ErrorDotExpr(s, pos) if !s.is_empty() => write!(f, "{} {} ({})", desc, s, pos),
             Self::ErrorDotExpr(_, pos) => write!(f, "{} ({})", desc, pos),
@@ -213,6 +217,7 @@ impl EvalAltResult {
             | Self::ErrorFor(pos)
             | Self::ErrorVariableNotFound(_, pos)
             | Self::ErrorAssignmentToUnknownLHS(pos)
+            | Self::ErrorAssignmentToConstant(_, pos)
             | Self::ErrorMismatchOutputType(_, pos)
             | Self::ErrorDotExpr(_, pos)
             | Self::ErrorArithmetic(_, pos)
@@ -238,6 +243,7 @@ impl EvalAltResult {
             | Self::ErrorFor(ref mut pos)
             | Self::ErrorVariableNotFound(_, ref mut pos)
             | Self::ErrorAssignmentToUnknownLHS(ref mut pos)
+            | Self::ErrorAssignmentToConstant(_, ref mut pos)
             | Self::ErrorMismatchOutputType(_, ref mut pos)
             | Self::ErrorDotExpr(_, ref mut pos)
             | Self::ErrorArithmetic(_, ref mut pos)

src/scope.rs

@@ -1,9 +1,26 @@
 //! Module that defines the `Scope` type representing a function call-stack scope.
 
-use crate::any::{Any, Dynamic};
+use crate::any::{Any, AnyExt, Dynamic};
+use crate::parser::{Expr, Position, INT};
+
+#[cfg(not(feature = "no_float"))]
+use crate::parser::FLOAT;
 
 use std::borrow::Cow;
 
+#[derive(Debug, Eq, PartialEq, Hash, Copy, Clone)]
+pub enum VariableType {
+    Normal,
+    Constant,
+}
+
+pub struct ScopeEntry<'a> {
+    pub name: Cow<'a, str>,
+    pub var_type: VariableType,
+    pub value: Dynamic,
+    pub expr: Option<Expr>,
+}
+
 /// A type containing information about current scope.
 /// Useful for keeping state between `Engine` runs.
 ///
@@ -25,7 +42,7 @@ use std::borrow::Cow;
 ///
 /// When searching for variables, newly-added variables are found before similarly-named but older variables,
 /// allowing for automatic _shadowing_ of variables.
-pub struct Scope<'a>(Vec<(Cow<'a, str>, Dynamic)>);
+pub struct Scope<'a>(Vec<ScopeEntry<'a>>);
 
 impl<'a> Scope<'a> {
     /// Create a new Scope.
@@ -44,18 +61,62 @@ impl<'a> Scope<'a> {
     }
 
     /// Add (push) a new variable to the Scope.
-    pub fn push<K: Into<Cow<'a, str>>, T: Any>(&mut self, key: K, value: T) {
+    pub fn push<K: Into<Cow<'a, str>>, T: Any>(&mut self, name: K, value: T) {
-        self.0.push((key.into(), Box::new(value)));
+        let value = value.into_dynamic();
+
+        // Map into constant expressions
+        let (expr, value) = map_dynamic_to_expr(value);
+
+        self.0.push(ScopeEntry {
+            name: name.into(),
+            var_type: VariableType::Normal,
+            value,
+            expr,
+        });
     }
 
-    /// Add (push) a new variable to the Scope.
+    /// Add (push) a new constant to the Scope.
-    pub(crate) fn push_dynamic<K: Into<Cow<'a, str>>>(&mut self, key: K, value: Dynamic) {
+    pub fn push_constant<K: Into<Cow<'a, str>>, T: Any>(&mut self, name: K, value: T) {
-        self.0.push((key.into(), value));
+        let value = value.into_dynamic();
+
+        // Map into constant expressions
+        let (expr, value) = map_dynamic_to_expr(value);
+
+        self.0.push(ScopeEntry {
+            name: name.into(),
+            var_type: VariableType::Constant,
+            value,
+            expr,
+        });
+    }
+
+    /// Add (push) a new variable with a `Dynamic` value to the Scope.
+    pub(crate) fn push_dynamic<K: Into<Cow<'a, str>>>(
+        &mut self,
+        name: K,
+        var_type: VariableType,
+        value: Dynamic,
+    ) {
+        let (expr, value) = map_dynamic_to_expr(value);
+
+        self.0.push(ScopeEntry {
+            name: name.into(),
+            var_type,
+            value,
+            expr,
+        });
     }
 
     /// Remove (pop) the last variable from the Scope.
-    pub fn pop(&mut self) -> Option<(String, Dynamic)> {
+    pub fn pop(&mut self) -> Option<(String, VariableType, Dynamic)> {
-        self.0.pop().map(|(key, value)| (key.to_string(), value))
+        self.0.pop().map(
+            |ScopeEntry {
+                 name,
+                 var_type,
+                 value,
+                 ..
+             }| (name.to_string(), var_type, value),
+        )
     }
 
     /// Truncate (rewind) the Scope to a previous size.
@@ -64,13 +125,23 @@ impl<'a> Scope<'a> {
     }
 
     /// Find a variable in the Scope, starting from the last.
-    pub fn get(&self, key: &str) -> Option<(usize, &str, Dynamic)> {
+    pub fn get(&self, key: &str) -> Option<(usize, &str, VariableType, Dynamic)> {
         self.0
             .iter()
             .enumerate()
             .rev() // Always search a Scope in reverse order
-            .find(|(_, (name, _))| name == key)
+            .find(|(_, ScopeEntry { name, .. })| name == key)
-            .map(|(i, (name, value))| (i, name.as_ref(), value.clone()))
+            .map(
+                |(
+                    i,
+                    ScopeEntry {
+                        name,
+                        var_type,
+                        value,
+                        ..
+                    },
+                )| (i, name.as_ref(), *var_type, value.clone()),
+            )
     }
 
     /// Get the value of a variable in the Scope, starting from the last.
@@ -79,53 +150,104 @@ impl<'a> Scope<'a> {
             .iter()
             .enumerate()
             .rev() // Always search a Scope in reverse order
-            .find(|(_, (name, _))| name == key)
+            .find(|(_, ScopeEntry { name, .. })| name == key)
-            .and_then(|(_, (_, value))| value.downcast_ref::<T>())
+            .and_then(|(_, ScopeEntry { value, .. })| value.downcast_ref::<T>())
-            .map(|value| value.clone())
+            .map(T::clone)
     }
 
     /// Get a mutable reference to a variable in the Scope.
-    pub(crate) fn get_mut(&mut self, key: &str, index: usize) -> &mut Dynamic {
+    pub(crate) fn get_mut(&mut self, name: &str, index: usize) -> &mut Dynamic {
         let entry = self.0.get_mut(index).expect("invalid index in Scope");
 
-        assert_eq!(entry.0, key, "incorrect key at Scope entry");
+        assert_ne!(
+            entry.var_type,
+            VariableType::Constant,
+            "get mut of constant variable"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(entry.name, name, "incorrect key at Scope entry");
 
-        &mut entry.1
+        &mut entry.value
     }
 
     /// Get a mutable reference to a variable in the Scope and downcast it to a specific type
     #[cfg(not(feature = "no_index"))]
-    pub(crate) fn get_mut_by_type<T: Any + Clone>(&mut self, key: &str, index: usize) -> &mut T {
+    pub(crate) fn get_mut_by_type<T: Any + Clone>(&mut self, name: &str, index: usize) -> &mut T {
-        self.get_mut(key, index)
+        self.get_mut(name, index)
             .downcast_mut::<T>()
             .expect("wrong type cast")
     }
 
     /// Get an iterator to variables in the Scope.
-    pub fn iter(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = (&str, &Dynamic)> {
+    pub fn iter(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = &ScopeEntry> {
-        self.0
+        self.0.iter().rev() // Always search a Scope in reverse order
-            .iter()
-            .rev() // Always search a Scope in reverse order
-            .map(|(key, value)| (key.as_ref(), value))
     }
-
-    /*
-    /// Get a mutable iterator to variables in the Scope.
-    pub fn iter_mut(&mut self) -> impl Iterator<Item = (&str, &mut Dynamic)> {
-        self.0
-            .iter_mut()
-            .rev() // Always search a Scope in reverse order
-            .map(|(key, value)| (key.as_ref(), value))
-    }
-    */
 }
 
-impl<'a, K> std::iter::Extend<(K, Dynamic)> for Scope<'a>
+impl<'a, K> std::iter::Extend<(K, VariableType, Dynamic)> for Scope<'a>
 where
     K: Into<Cow<'a, str>>,
 {
-    fn extend<T: IntoIterator<Item = (K, Dynamic)>>(&mut self, iter: T) {
+    fn extend<T: IntoIterator<Item = (K, VariableType, Dynamic)>>(&mut self, iter: T) {
         self.0
-            .extend(iter.into_iter().map(|(key, value)| (key.into(), value)));
+            .extend(iter.into_iter().map(|(name, var_type, value)| ScopeEntry {
+                name: name.into(),
+                var_type,
+                value,
+                expr: None,
+            }));
+    }
+}
+
+fn map_dynamic_to_expr(value: Dynamic) -> (Option<Expr>, Dynamic) {
+    if value.is::<INT>() {
+        let value2 = value.clone();
+        (
+            Some(Expr::IntegerConstant(
+                *value.downcast::<INT>().expect("value should be INT"),
+                Position::none(),
+            )),
+            value2,
+        )
+    } else if value.is::<FLOAT>() {
+        let value2 = value.clone();
+        (
+            Some(Expr::FloatConstant(
+                *value.downcast::<FLOAT>().expect("value should be FLOAT"),
+                Position::none(),
+            )),
+            value2,
+        )
+    } else if value.is::<char>() {
+        let value2 = value.clone();
+        (
+            Some(Expr::CharConstant(
+                *value.downcast::<char>().expect("value should be char"),
+                Position::none(),
+            )),
+            value2,
+        )
+    } else if value.is::<String>() {
+        let value2 = value.clone();
+        (
+            Some(Expr::StringConstant(
+                *value.downcast::<String>().expect("value should be String"),
+                Position::none(),
+            )),
+            value2,
+        )
+    } else if value.is::<bool>() {
+        let value2 = value.clone();
+        (
+            Some(
+                if *value.downcast::<bool>().expect("value should be bool") {
+                    Expr::True(Position::none())
+                } else {
+                    Expr::False(Position::none())
+                },
+            ),
+            value2,
+        )
+    } else {
+        (None, value)
     }
 }

tests/chars.rs

@@ -11,12 +11,12 @@ fn test_chars() -> Result<(), EvalAltResult> {
     {
         assert_eq!(engine.eval::<char>(r#"let x="hello"; x[2]"#)?, 'l');
         assert_eq!(
-            engine.eval::<String>(r#"let x="hello"; x[2]='$'; x"#)?,
+            engine.eval::<String>(r#"let y="hello"; y[2]='$'; y"#)?,
             "he$lo".to_string()
         );
     }
 
-    assert!(engine.eval::<char>("'\\uhello'").is_err());
+    assert!(engine.eval::<char>(r"'\uhello'").is_err());
     assert!(engine.eval::<char>("''").is_err());
 
     Ok(())

tests/constants.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+use rhai::{Engine, EvalAltResult};
+
+#[test]
+fn test_constant() -> Result<(), EvalAltResult> {
+    let mut engine = Engine::new();
+
+    assert_eq!(engine.eval::<i64>("const x = 123; x")?, 123);
+
+    match engine.eval::<i64>("const x = 123; x = 42; x") {
+        Err(EvalAltResult::ErrorAssignmentToConstant(var, _)) if var == "x" => (),
+        Err(err) => return Err(err),
+        Ok(_) => panic!("expecting compilation error"),
+    }
+
+    Ok(())
+}