> The alternative of not having a "zero value" is to have variables with undefined values, and we know from C/C++ that it's extremely bad idea. No, you can def

> The alternative of not having a "zero value" is to have variables with undefined values, and we know from C/C++ that it's extremely bad idea. No, you can define the language such that zero/undefined values never creep into the semantics. MLs traditionally do this. I believe Swift does this.