Curious - why are BYOND arrays 1-index based?

ID:2336600
 
Jan 12 2018, 2:50 am
(See the best response by Kaiochao.)
See title. No problem - just curiosity got the better of me.
Jan 12 2018, 3:10 am
Just are.
Jan 12 2018, 5:48 am
it be like that

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Jan 12 2018, 11:34 am
Best response
IMO, lists in BYOND start at 1 because they're lists, not arrays.

Arrays are a contiguous array of computer memory, and the index is simply the offset from the first element's index. The first element is 0 memory locations after itself. The second element is 1 memory location after the first. And so on.

Lists are an abstract "container" that is more familiar to the average person (which BYOND is aimed towards). Numbered lists start at 1, everyone knows that.
Jan 12 2018, 4:42 pm
I suspect the real answer is because "non-programmer" people would find it simpler to wrap their heads around 1-indexed lists as compared to 0-indexed lists. After all most people start counting from 1, not 0.
Jan 15 2018, 3:06 am
Poor life choices.